"Now Is the Acceptable Time The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn."—Isaiah 61:1–2
God's timing is perfect! When He speaks, the time to respond in obedience is now. We often act as if we have all the time in the world to obey Him, but history doesn't wait on our commitments. There is no such thing as postponing a decision with God. Either we obey, or we disobey. It is either faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience. When God announces that now is the acceptable time, what you do next is critical. How often people have been unprepared when a word came to them from the Lord. God said, “Now is the time for you to respond to Me” and their response was, “But I'm not ready. I have some things I need to do first. I'm too busy!” (Matt. 8:21). God's timing is always perfect. He knows you, and He is fully aware of your circumstances. He knows all that He has built into your life until now, and He extends His invitation knowing that His resources are more than adequate for any assignment He gives you. That is why Scripture tells us God is concerned with our heart. If we do not keep our heart in love with Jesus, our disobedience when God speaks could affect the lives of others. When God speaks it is always out of the context of eternity. We don't have to know all the implications of what He is asking. We just have to know that it is a word from almighty God. “Now” is always the acceptable time to respond to the Lord! —Experiencing God Day by Day
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sharing Mercy
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matt 9:13
How much like our Master are we in this regard? Are we more zealous for our reputation that we are for His lost sheep? With whom do we fellowship? If we placed ourselves at this dinner at Matthew's house, would we be more likely to react like the Pharisees or like the Savior? Our answer to these questions tells us whether or not we have forgotten where we came from.
Jesus ate with tax collectors who were considered traitors to the Jews, treacherous money grubbing extortionists. He also mingled with prostitutes and other unsavory characters, so much so that He was accused of gluttony and drunkenness. Why would the Messiah allow His reputation to be so tarnished? Because the gospel was meant for such as these.
Is it meant for us, too? What about those of us who claim no such degradation in our past? It's there. It may be buried deep within us, and we may have covered it well, but if we don't know it's in there we're likely to become like the Pharisees at Matthew's table. We've forgotten that it was once just as offensive for Jesus to dine with us.
Anyone who is appalled at the depravity of someone else doesn't understand the gospel. In order to understand the gospel, we must begin by knowing that we are all children of Adam and as such are partakers in the rebellion common to man. That this rebellion manifests itself in one person as murder and in another as a selfish fib is no matter - it all comes from the same seed. Some sinners are more whitewashed than others, but rebellion is at the core of us all. Knowing this does not leave room for the mind of a Pharisee, it casts us on our faces, grateful for His mercy. Know this gospel of mercy, savor it, never forget it. And welcome others into it.
"Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan." John Chrysostom
How much like our Master are we in this regard? Are we more zealous for our reputation that we are for His lost sheep? With whom do we fellowship? If we placed ourselves at this dinner at Matthew's house, would we be more likely to react like the Pharisees or like the Savior? Our answer to these questions tells us whether or not we have forgotten where we came from.
Jesus ate with tax collectors who were considered traitors to the Jews, treacherous money grubbing extortionists. He also mingled with prostitutes and other unsavory characters, so much so that He was accused of gluttony and drunkenness. Why would the Messiah allow His reputation to be so tarnished? Because the gospel was meant for such as these.
Is it meant for us, too? What about those of us who claim no such degradation in our past? It's there. It may be buried deep within us, and we may have covered it well, but if we don't know it's in there we're likely to become like the Pharisees at Matthew's table. We've forgotten that it was once just as offensive for Jesus to dine with us.
Anyone who is appalled at the depravity of someone else doesn't understand the gospel. In order to understand the gospel, we must begin by knowing that we are all children of Adam and as such are partakers in the rebellion common to man. That this rebellion manifests itself in one person as murder and in another as a selfish fib is no matter - it all comes from the same seed. Some sinners are more whitewashed than others, but rebellion is at the core of us all. Knowing this does not leave room for the mind of a Pharisee, it casts us on our faces, grateful for His mercy. Know this gospel of mercy, savor it, never forget it. And welcome others into it.
"Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan." John Chrysostom
Friday, October 30, 2009
Things are changing
Well,
I have not updated this since August 09 and yet it seems like an eternity. But, in perspective to God's time it has only been a few minutes. I am reminded that change is inevitable, God loves change. We as a people not so much. We tend to prefer no ripples in the pond, keep things simple and just the way they were. The problem with this attitude is that when we stay there too long we become something else....complacent. This is defined as: pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: smug, unbothered, untroubled. I don't know about you, but I find that very troubling and not a place I care to be. When we become so set in our ways that we lose awareness of potential dangers. This is true in our everyday life as well as our spiritual life. Because we know according to the Word of God that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy. But, if we are daily putting on the armor of God and are vigilantly alert then we can use the shield of faith to stop any arrows that the devil will try to hurl at us. The key of course is that we absolutely must allow God to work in us and through us because we cannot do it alone. We can do all things through God who strengthens us. Not my words, but Gods. So remember when you are feeling down feeling like you just can't handle it...you don't have to, turn it over to God let Him carry the burden and trust that He will not only provide a means for you to make it, but He will protect you from the devil. Let me know what you think or if you have any comments.
I have not updated this since August 09 and yet it seems like an eternity. But, in perspective to God's time it has only been a few minutes. I am reminded that change is inevitable, God loves change. We as a people not so much. We tend to prefer no ripples in the pond, keep things simple and just the way they were. The problem with this attitude is that when we stay there too long we become something else....complacent. This is defined as: pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied: smug, unbothered, untroubled. I don't know about you, but I find that very troubling and not a place I care to be. When we become so set in our ways that we lose awareness of potential dangers. This is true in our everyday life as well as our spiritual life. Because we know according to the Word of God that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy. But, if we are daily putting on the armor of God and are vigilantly alert then we can use the shield of faith to stop any arrows that the devil will try to hurl at us. The key of course is that we absolutely must allow God to work in us and through us because we cannot do it alone. We can do all things through God who strengthens us. Not my words, but Gods. So remember when you are feeling down feeling like you just can't handle it...you don't have to, turn it over to God let Him carry the burden and trust that He will not only provide a means for you to make it, but He will protect you from the devil. Let me know what you think or if you have any comments.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Shining Lights
Your eye is the lamp of your body. Luke 11:34
Many commentators see a Hebrew idiom in this verse: "a good eye" refers to generosity and "a bad eye" refers to stinginess. Others broaden the image to include truth and purity on the positive side, covetousness and lust on the negative. No matter how one takes the symbolism, Jesus is clear: What our eyes see -what we strive for and what we take in - is important. The conduct of your eyes, literally and figuratively, with regard to money and other human passions, determines to a large degree the amount of light we receive from God.
Just as light allows us to see into once-dark places, our eyes allow us to understand who we really are in the depths of our souls. If your eyes take in the true light that comes from God- His Word and the glory of His gospel in Christ - we see well. There is clarity and wisdom that can only come from seeing things as God sees them. But if our eyes consume garbage-the cravings of sinful man and the pride of sel-indulgence-then we see ourselves in the dark, obscurely and distortedly, if at all. What we choose to see has a lot to dow ith whether we are walking in God's light and whether we are shining His light for others to see.
Joyful generosity is a clear indication that one is walking in the light. So are purity and God-directed desires. Stinginess, self-indulgence, and impure vision are likewise clear indications that one is NOT walking in the light. And all of these are cultivated by what we choose--and refuse--to see.
With what do you feed your soul? Can you set it on a stand for others to see? One of a Christian's greatest struggles is trying to see it all-we become confused and divided. Do we gaze on light, darkness, or both? If you really want to know, do an inventory of things that fill your eyes, metaphorically speaking. Is your vision occupied with money? lustfulness? selfish extravagance? If so, be careful for what you see. Purify you sight, and let your light shine.
William Secker said, "The body has two eyes, but the soul must have but one."
Many commentators see a Hebrew idiom in this verse: "a good eye" refers to generosity and "a bad eye" refers to stinginess. Others broaden the image to include truth and purity on the positive side, covetousness and lust on the negative. No matter how one takes the symbolism, Jesus is clear: What our eyes see -what we strive for and what we take in - is important. The conduct of your eyes, literally and figuratively, with regard to money and other human passions, determines to a large degree the amount of light we receive from God.
Just as light allows us to see into once-dark places, our eyes allow us to understand who we really are in the depths of our souls. If your eyes take in the true light that comes from God- His Word and the glory of His gospel in Christ - we see well. There is clarity and wisdom that can only come from seeing things as God sees them. But if our eyes consume garbage-the cravings of sinful man and the pride of sel-indulgence-then we see ourselves in the dark, obscurely and distortedly, if at all. What we choose to see has a lot to dow ith whether we are walking in God's light and whether we are shining His light for others to see.
Joyful generosity is a clear indication that one is walking in the light. So are purity and God-directed desires. Stinginess, self-indulgence, and impure vision are likewise clear indications that one is NOT walking in the light. And all of these are cultivated by what we choose--and refuse--to see.
With what do you feed your soul? Can you set it on a stand for others to see? One of a Christian's greatest struggles is trying to see it all-we become confused and divided. Do we gaze on light, darkness, or both? If you really want to know, do an inventory of things that fill your eyes, metaphorically speaking. Is your vision occupied with money? lustfulness? selfish extravagance? If so, be careful for what you see. Purify you sight, and let your light shine.
William Secker said, "The body has two eyes, but the soul must have but one."
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Perfect Storm
Several years ago a movie came out that told about how despite warnings an experienced group of fishermen went out with their trawler and died in what was termed a 'perfect storm'. Weather patterns converged to create a storm of the century. For the last several years another type of perfect storm has been forming in the economic world. Our former treasury secretary Alan Greenspan warned us several times during the 90's and early in this decade of what he termed 'irrational exuberance'. A better term for this might have been drunken stupor. We were drunk on making money based on speculation and the lie that the party would never end. It seemed a few years ago that just about everyone I knew was "dealing". Not drugs mind you but real estate. People kept asking me if I was investing in real estate. I told them I knew nothing about it and even if I did had no money to invest anyway!One major lie can lead to a massive collapse of what you and I build our lives on. The assumption in our economy was thay everyone should live the American dream and own their own home. Trouble was that if you are irresonsible and don't know how to work hard and save that the home you own was really a scam. A huge ponzi robbery scheme developed where everyone put their hand in the cookie jar of real etate. People just didn't take what wasn't thiers.... they assisted in stealing our entire nations future for a party built on lies.The way home from this hangover will take decades not years. A surgery won't cure it. A bail out won't cure it. A change in governments won't cure it. A change of heart and behavior will. But even repentance and a change in lifestyle will need to be walked out one step at a time. It will take years of accountability and commitment to live the old fashioned way of "pay as you go".Until recently 70 percent of our nations economy was built on consumer spending. Trouble is we spent 130 percent of what we made. That is we OVERSPENT big time. Now the bubble is burst and even massive printing of fake money from the U.S. government cannot sustain a lifestyle built on lies. We have a unique opportunity to do the right thing and quit the easy temptation to believe more lies. The voices will continue to call to you and me: eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Don't buy this lie from hell.Let's live a life of meaning and service to something that goes way beyond selfish pleasure. When we seek first the kingdom of God all we really need wil be provided. What we don't need will fall away as our hearts change and pure joy is given from the inside out.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Power of Music
You know some people are so blind as to how powerful music really is. Satan was pretty much the greatest worship leader ever at one point. He was the worship leader in Heaven for all the angels. His problem was that began to think that he was as good and eventually thought that he should be above God. Satan has continued to use music to this day to bring people down the wrong path.
Having said this, I am definitely not saying that all music is bad, infact quite the opposite. The reality is that the same thing that Satan did in Heaven is what he continues to do to this day and that is to twist something that is wonderful and designed by God. Satan's tricks are new, he just continues to disguises them. Music is something that is wonderful and powerful, but like anything that is created for God we have the choice to use it for good or bad. Words play a significant part in music. I have heard countless people tell me that "I love the music, but I have not really listened to the words" or "there just words.." Both of these are really dangerous ways to think and here is why: I found 23 verses in the Bible that talk about the significance of words. Not to mention..John 1:1 which says that in the beginning was the Word...
- Words have the ability to build up or destroy. A saying that I absolutely cannot stand is "sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt me." Really, what a lie. I have a friend that I grew up with that had to listen everyday as his parents told him he would never amount to anything and that he was a loser. I tried to tell him to not base who he is or was going to be on what they said, but eventually he began to get in trouble and slipped further and further into problems. He would simply tell people that he was living up to what was expected.
Statistically we have the potential to effect atleast 5-10 people who are close to us with the words that we chose. We can edify their lives and speak life into them by speaking about Christ or we can destroy them and tear them down by speaking negatively.
A Christian rock band that was very popular in the 80s had a song that said, "computers brains put garbage in, computers brains put garbage out." This is so true only we get it from movies, books, our peers and most definitely music and video games. If God thought that words were important enough to be called the Word of life, shouldn't we choose to life and speak it into the lives of others? The more that I listen to gospel, praise and other types of Christian music, I chose my music carefully because I want to be more Christ-like so that others will see Him in me. I pray that you will too.
Having said this, I am definitely not saying that all music is bad, infact quite the opposite. The reality is that the same thing that Satan did in Heaven is what he continues to do to this day and that is to twist something that is wonderful and designed by God. Satan's tricks are new, he just continues to disguises them. Music is something that is wonderful and powerful, but like anything that is created for God we have the choice to use it for good or bad. Words play a significant part in music. I have heard countless people tell me that "I love the music, but I have not really listened to the words" or "there just words.." Both of these are really dangerous ways to think and here is why: I found 23 verses in the Bible that talk about the significance of words. Not to mention..John 1:1 which says that in the beginning was the Word...
- Words have the ability to build up or destroy. A saying that I absolutely cannot stand is "sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt me." Really, what a lie. I have a friend that I grew up with that had to listen everyday as his parents told him he would never amount to anything and that he was a loser. I tried to tell him to not base who he is or was going to be on what they said, but eventually he began to get in trouble and slipped further and further into problems. He would simply tell people that he was living up to what was expected.
Statistically we have the potential to effect atleast 5-10 people who are close to us with the words that we chose. We can edify their lives and speak life into them by speaking about Christ or we can destroy them and tear them down by speaking negatively.
A Christian rock band that was very popular in the 80s had a song that said, "computers brains put garbage in, computers brains put garbage out." This is so true only we get it from movies, books, our peers and most definitely music and video games. If God thought that words were important enough to be called the Word of life, shouldn't we choose to life and speak it into the lives of others? The more that I listen to gospel, praise and other types of Christian music, I chose my music carefully because I want to be more Christ-like so that others will see Him in me. I pray that you will too.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Controling the Tongue
Usually if we speak without thinking it leads to trouble. The Bible is very clear regarding our tongue. It is referred to as a rudder that can guide us safely or into harms way. When I am tired or have a lot on my mind, I tend to forget and the very essence of my humanity seeps out of my pores like a river. Paul stated that his spirit was willing, but his flesh was weak. It is those very times that I am trying to train myself to be on my guard to not allow my tongue to engage before thinking. But as with many of you, I am a work in progress. I have not come close to mastering this one yet, probably won't until I get to heaven. But, I know that I can improve and so can you all. I come back to one of my favorite scriptures time and again in relation to many issues or situations: Eph 1:18-20 "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with the light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."
Remember afterwards, that grace is in place if you are a believer.
- Prov 10:12 "love covers all offenses..."
- I Pet 4:8 "love covers a multitude of sins.."
Love is a wonderful and powerful thing. It is defined as the ultimate expression fo God's loyalty, purity and mercy extended toward his people and it is to be reflected in human relationships of brotherly concern, martial fidelity and adoration of God.
Remember afterwards, that grace is in place if you are a believer.
- Prov 10:12 "love covers all offenses..."
- I Pet 4:8 "love covers a multitude of sins.."
Love is a wonderful and powerful thing. It is defined as the ultimate expression fo God's loyalty, purity and mercy extended toward his people and it is to be reflected in human relationships of brotherly concern, martial fidelity and adoration of God.
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