Our God is a good God. When he made man he didn't desire to just rule over him in complete power and dominance, but he desired them to love him. God puts all of himself in front of us everyday, and then declares that whoever wants him can have him. It's a choice. If God forced everyone to do what he wanted, we would not have the chance to know God personally and to be God's friends. And so, everyday we are presented with many choices.
Most people today choose to run after their own lusts and desires of their heart. Men don't even think twice about using the Lord's name in vain, hating their brothers and sisters, defiling their bodies and doing whatever comes to their mind. Men fear the police more than God. Men fear men that they have never met, more than God.
Then we also have the "Christians" that go to Sunday mass every week, and hear the water-downed message from their pasture, priest, bishop, or whatever. Besides the fact that most preachers preach God's message rapped around emotion and not by the spirit, the people listening to the message still don't even follow the false message being preached.
Now, the truth is that God is calling his people to draw closer to him. He wants his people to die to their selves and to choose him every day in everything. There is no other way. I have heard some different stories recently of people saying how God has put us on this earth to enjoy it. I thought God said we were put on this earth to worship and serve him. That means we must humble ourselves and put down all that we know. No matter the circumstances, we must lay it down and never look back to the old man. We must think in the terms of, what is everlasting, and what's not everlasting. We must ask the question,"Lord, what would you have of me?" Rather than,"Lord, can I?"
As I was saying earlier, everything is a choice. I know that we hear that a lot, from parents, bosses, teachers, and high school counsellors. The truth is that God is our counsellor, and we need to follow after his wants and desires and what he thinks is best for us.
This scripture stirred me today when I was skimming through the bible. It is just confirmation of the times that we are in, and it's wisdom to all.
Jude
14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
-All for God's glory.
God bless, Chad
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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3 comments:
Amen, Chad.
Today I was recieving understandings much along the same lines, about being friends of God. After the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled many will wonder why they can no longer come, they will speak against God, calling Him unjust and unfair. The Truth will be that God will not accept them because they didn't come when He called, when He stretched His hand out to them bidding them as friends, They will have already chosen against being sons and daughters. And when and if they do finally call out to Him, it will only be for the blessings and only in fear of losing their lives. God wants people that want to be His friends, His sons and daughters. A people that want to know Him, and be used by Him, and to do things His way. A people who call on Him because they Love Him, and care not for their own lives.
How are we, or anyone else going to tell God, "we want to do it our way." As if we are more wise than God. And we must be careful lest he lets us do so, which will surely lead to a fall.
I praise God that we are called friends and sons, though we are to be as humble servants. I know that those at the ESC feel the same. And though some of us came by love and some by fear, God has led us all in a time appointed to the Love that binds us together in Him and His Spirit. And when that time has ended any man who thinks that saying "Lord, Lord" is enough is unwise.
But as always we must be careful that we don't reject what God is saying today, so that we are not counted amongst those people.
Love and Life,
Alex
Amen, Chad.
If you love the Truth (Jesus) more than anything else in this life, or even your very life, it will set you free from all expectations that you have for yourself and everything in this flesh that keeps you from entering in to the fullness of what God has for you.
The pearl of great price. When the merchant found the pearl of great price, he went and sold everything he had just to obtain it. God is making it so clear to me that those who do not love God in this way, those who have not sold everything that they have and are not determined to know only Christ and Him crucified, will suffer much loss in the times to come.
Now is the time to put away the childish things and quit ourselves as men (and women) in Him. I know we hear these things all the time, and to some they are just words, but we need to frame our life around everything that God tells us to do. It is wisdom to those who hear it. It is life and peace in God.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, everyday. Don't just put it on for a season....live in it.
Ryan
A lot of truth Chad.
You wrote this: Men fear men that they have never met, more than God.
How true. Men fear guys with tattoos, bikers, Mafia, gangs, drugged out whackos, terrorists, bullies, ect.... They fear what other men can do to their flesh. Though they don't know them. Most people don't know God and He is the one that they should fear the most. It's a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a living God. Even the toughest of all those bad guys will find out what fear really is.
Another point you address, forgetting. People, those who once knew God, forget the right way. Forget what God showed them about themselves. Forget to do what they know is right. Forget to fear the living God because of their own lusts.
L,J,P&HG
Dave
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