The other day, Lynn saw my T-shirt that pictures a stubborn, defiant, and determined child with the inscription, “I won’t do it!” under it. Lynn pointed to the picture and said something like, “That is so not you.” I was surprised by the comment because in my thinking, it really is soooo me. I wondered how many things my family could tell Lynn that I wouldn’t do.
In my conversations with the LORD, I hear the Children of Israel’s stubbornness and rebellion coming from my mouth and thoughts. Some of them are, “It wasn’t my fault, I won’t apologize.” “They were the ones who hurt me. I won’t take the initiative to work things out.” “They have to come to me. I won’t go to them.” “I won’t be merciful because they don’t show any signs of remorse or regret.” “They don’t deserve it. I won’t treat them kindly.” I could go on and on because I have many such conversations with the LORD.
As I thought about this, I was reminded of the parable of the two sons that Jesus talked about in Matthew 21:28-31. A man had two sons and asked the first son to work in his vineyard. The first son said, “I will not,” but later on changed his mind and he went to work. The second son said, “No problem Dad,” but he did not go. Jesus asked, “ Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
In life, God gives us choices. When Jesus asks us to do something, we sometimes develop the “Moses complex.” We tell Jesus why we won’t or cannot do what He asks. But after all is said and done aren’t we like Peter who said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
If we want to continue to be in fellowship with our God and Savior, we really do not have any other choice but to say, “I’ll do it.”
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Heaven is Over Rated
I think that Heaven is over rated. Some of us think that Heaven is our salvation. For those who think that our salvation is found in Heaven, I don’t think that we will ever feel secure until we’re inside the walls of heaven, with the gates of Heaven shut and locked behind us. It really is a terrible way to go through life.
Our salvation, or our eternal security is not found in a place, a thing, or an activity on our part. Our eternal security is found in a person. This is the message of Scripture from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, to Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Sometimes that message is not very clear, it’s almost as if it’s in the shadows.
In Genesis15:1, for example, God speaks to Abraham and tells him, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” If God were giving Abraham a test, He’d be asking Abraham, “Who is your protection? Who is your safety and security? Who is your fortress and refuge? Who is your shield?” And if Abraham didn’t get it, God would have answered, “I AM.”
Should there have been a part two to the test; God would ask, “Who’s your blessing? Who’s your benefit and bonus? Who’s your prize and trophy? Who’s your reward—your very great reward?” Again God would have answered, “I AM”.
In the New Testament, who is our defense, our intercessor, our advocate, and our blessing? Is it not the same One who says, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). Is it not the same One who also says, “I AM the way. I AM the truth. I AM the life. No man comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
The Apostle Paul later on tells the Ephesians that in Him, that is in Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). We can have this confidence, assurance, and eternal security in Him because we have a promise that is sealed by His blood (Ephesians 1:7). This is something, or rather, Someone that we can find rest in—in this life and the life to come.
Our salvation, or our eternal security is not found in a place, a thing, or an activity on our part. Our eternal security is found in a person. This is the message of Scripture from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, to Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Sometimes that message is not very clear, it’s almost as if it’s in the shadows.
In Genesis15:1, for example, God speaks to Abraham and tells him, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” If God were giving Abraham a test, He’d be asking Abraham, “Who is your protection? Who is your safety and security? Who is your fortress and refuge? Who is your shield?” And if Abraham didn’t get it, God would have answered, “I AM.”
Should there have been a part two to the test; God would ask, “Who’s your blessing? Who’s your benefit and bonus? Who’s your prize and trophy? Who’s your reward—your very great reward?” Again God would have answered, “I AM”.
In the New Testament, who is our defense, our intercessor, our advocate, and our blessing? Is it not the same One who says, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). Is it not the same One who also says, “I AM the way. I AM the truth. I AM the life. No man comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
The Apostle Paul later on tells the Ephesians that in Him, that is in Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). We can have this confidence, assurance, and eternal security in Him because we have a promise that is sealed by His blood (Ephesians 1:7). This is something, or rather, Someone that we can find rest in—in this life and the life to come.
Friday, April 10, 2009
O Wretched Man
I’ve been taken aside and scolded for calling myself a scumbag. I was thinking in terms of being contemptible, but then someone enlightened me and informed me that a scumbag refers to a used condom. I thought to myself, “It’s a much more fitting description of myself than I thought.”
Whenever I speak of myself in a negative way, people often respond with, “You’re not like that” or “That’s not you,” I think to myself, “If it’s not me, then who am I talking about?” Because of this, I often feel misunderstood and alone. How I long for someone to come along side of me, put their arm on my shoulders and say, “I know how you feel, but isn’t it wonderful that God loves us anyway?” or “Isn’t it wonderful that this is a temporary condition and that God is in the process of redeeming us from our present state?” or “Doesn’t it make you wonder, what is man that God is mindful of us, the son of man that He cares for us?” or “Doesn’t your heart yearn and burn for our Savior’s return?”
Whenever I say negative things about myself, it’s usually not the end of my thought, but for some reason, that’s what most people hear. It’s almost like opening up “The Book,” reading Romans 7:15-22, hearing Paul say, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” and then closing “The Book.”
Paul, I wish you were here. I wish we could talk. If you were here, I think you’d hear and understand what I am trying to say. If you were here, I don’t think I would feel so alone. I could be wrong, but I think that if we got together, I think that there would not only be a bond of fellowship, but there would also be great rejoicing between us.
I’d join you in singing “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our LORD (Romans 8:1-2, 7:25).”
Whenever I speak of myself in a negative way, people often respond with, “You’re not like that” or “That’s not you,” I think to myself, “If it’s not me, then who am I talking about?” Because of this, I often feel misunderstood and alone. How I long for someone to come along side of me, put their arm on my shoulders and say, “I know how you feel, but isn’t it wonderful that God loves us anyway?” or “Isn’t it wonderful that this is a temporary condition and that God is in the process of redeeming us from our present state?” or “Doesn’t it make you wonder, what is man that God is mindful of us, the son of man that He cares for us?” or “Doesn’t your heart yearn and burn for our Savior’s return?”
Whenever I say negative things about myself, it’s usually not the end of my thought, but for some reason, that’s what most people hear. It’s almost like opening up “The Book,” reading Romans 7:15-22, hearing Paul say, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” and then closing “The Book.”
Paul, I wish you were here. I wish we could talk. If you were here, I think you’d hear and understand what I am trying to say. If you were here, I don’t think I would feel so alone. I could be wrong, but I think that if we got together, I think that there would not only be a bond of fellowship, but there would also be great rejoicing between us.
I’d join you in singing “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our LORD (Romans 8:1-2, 7:25).”
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