The apostle Paul says something to his child in the faith, Timothy that is very interesting. The Spirit had him warn us that in the last days of something to be aware of:
1 But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors,reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of religion but denying its power. Avoid these people!
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also. (Emphasis mine)
2 Timothy 3:1-9
This is the information age. We can learn just about anything we want within a few moments of internet searching. There is also a Bible study, or Christian "self-help" book for just about every topic you could imagine and several in the popular topics. Are all of these things bad? No! But be aware that some of them can be.
Are you coming to a knowledge of the Truth? In other words, are you coming to a deeper knowledge, understanding, and relationship with Jesus Christ? "Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 As you learn more and more about the Truth, there will not be the heavy burden of restrictions and duties (law), but there will be a deep love, passion, and devotion to Him. You will be freed! "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
Are you free?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tennessee Fall
Though the leaves are beautiful this time of year, this Tennessee weather is driving me crazy! It's 39 degrees in the morning and 83 in the afternoon. Dressing the kids for school and wearing comfortable clothes for the day is near impossible, because we are either freezing in the morning or burning up by midday. So many times I have wished it would make up its mind and stay either hot or cold...
..."The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:14-16
This morning as I was grumping about the temperature in my heart, the Spirit touched me to say that God doesn't really like that hot/cold thing much either. Perhaps He allows it here in the Bible Belt to reminds us just how annoying it can be...
..."The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:14-16
This morning as I was grumping about the temperature in my heart, the Spirit touched me to say that God doesn't really like that hot/cold thing much either. Perhaps He allows it here in the Bible Belt to reminds us just how annoying it can be...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
This Is How We Are Sure
My dear church family near and far, this is my heart's burden: Truth can't be said any better than in Scripture...
This is how we are sure we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
...16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 2:16-21
This is how we are sure we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
...16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 2:16-21
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Organic Christianity
I shared with my Facebook friends recently that I had created a monster, and once again, it's my youngest son.
While eating an apple the other day, he asked if it was organic. When I told him no, because they weren't on sale, he told me he guessed that was OK, but organic would be healthier for him.
Ouch.
We have been trying to switch to healthier eating for the last few years, but when he recently discovered what organic food really meant, he has not let me forget the benefits and has been very interested in what is available. The only problem is the initial cost. Organic is expensive! I know that in the long run they say it's about the same as eating the regular food and then paying all the extra medical expenses, but I have to admit that the "now" aspect pinches the pocket a little too hard at times for a family of four on a very tight budget.
"Ah!" the Spirit reminded me, "Isn't that much like Christian life?"
I'm not talking about salvation, but how you live the life which you have already claimed to surrender completely to Him. To follow Him they way we should costs a lot up front. It really pinches the pockets we have budgeted for comfortable Christian existence. And much like the cost of organic food now verses medical expenses later, we can pay the price now and become healthy, vibrant, effective children of God, or we can allow ourselves to become sickly. Then we must go before a just and holy God and live eternally with the few measly crowns we have to toss at our Savior's feet.
I don't know about you, but I believe He's worthy enough for me to spend every penny I have and every thing that I am in order to try and bury Him up to His knees in crowns. The high cost of a sacrificial life is worth every cent.
While eating an apple the other day, he asked if it was organic. When I told him no, because they weren't on sale, he told me he guessed that was OK, but organic would be healthier for him.
Ouch.
We have been trying to switch to healthier eating for the last few years, but when he recently discovered what organic food really meant, he has not let me forget the benefits and has been very interested in what is available. The only problem is the initial cost. Organic is expensive! I know that in the long run they say it's about the same as eating the regular food and then paying all the extra medical expenses, but I have to admit that the "now" aspect pinches the pocket a little too hard at times for a family of four on a very tight budget.
"Ah!" the Spirit reminded me, "Isn't that much like Christian life?"
I'm not talking about salvation, but how you live the life which you have already claimed to surrender completely to Him. To follow Him they way we should costs a lot up front. It really pinches the pockets we have budgeted for comfortable Christian existence. And much like the cost of organic food now verses medical expenses later, we can pay the price now and become healthy, vibrant, effective children of God, or we can allow ourselves to become sickly. Then we must go before a just and holy God and live eternally with the few measly crowns we have to toss at our Savior's feet.
I don't know about you, but I believe He's worthy enough for me to spend every penny I have and every thing that I am in order to try and bury Him up to His knees in crowns. The high cost of a sacrificial life is worth every cent.
Monday, October 18, 2010
What I Want To Do
This morning as my husband and I dropped off the kids at school, he asked me what I wanted to do today. I ran down the list of things I needed to get done today: Read my Bible, write a blog, go over my lesson for Tuesday night, clean the bathrooms, sweep, vacuum.... and so on. He paused for a moment and then said, "But what do you want to do today?" After taking a few moments to ponder it, I realized those things I needed to do today were also the things I wanted to do today. That was the moment I was aware God had answered my prayers.
For years my fleshly desires and nature have been fighting God tooth and nail over what He has called me to do for this season in life. In that time, though I tended to physically obeyed Him, my desires have been elsewhere. Over and over I have prayed that He would change my heart to desire what He wants. I knew God's Word promises that if I took "...delight in the Lord," as the Psalmist says, "He would give me my heart's desires." (Psalm 37:4) The problem is that what we tend to desire is far from Him and His ways. "But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for detestable things and abominations, I will bring their actions down on their own heads." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD . Ezekiel 11:21 For me to get the desires of my heart, I knew it was my heart which had to change.
Today was the first true indication that He has accomplished this in me!! For now... I'm sure He'll stretch me again soon. :)
The funny thing is I have also noticed another change of heart He's put in me recently which I know will lead to much greater challenges of my heart and its desires. But you know what? He is faithful and true. He has proven Himself over and over and over again to me. Why wouldn't I trust Him completely in these future desires of my heart as well?
The Rock—His work is perfect;
all His ways are entirely just.
A faithful God, without prejudice,
He is righteous and true.
Deuteronomy 32:4
For years my fleshly desires and nature have been fighting God tooth and nail over what He has called me to do for this season in life. In that time, though I tended to physically obeyed Him, my desires have been elsewhere. Over and over I have prayed that He would change my heart to desire what He wants. I knew God's Word promises that if I took "...delight in the Lord," as the Psalmist says, "He would give me my heart's desires." (Psalm 37:4) The problem is that what we tend to desire is far from Him and His ways. "But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for detestable things and abominations, I will bring their actions down on their own heads." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD . Ezekiel 11:21 For me to get the desires of my heart, I knew it was my heart which had to change.
Today was the first true indication that He has accomplished this in me!! For now... I'm sure He'll stretch me again soon. :)
The funny thing is I have also noticed another change of heart He's put in me recently which I know will lead to much greater challenges of my heart and its desires. But you know what? He is faithful and true. He has proven Himself over and over and over again to me. Why wouldn't I trust Him completely in these future desires of my heart as well?
The Rock—His work is perfect;
all His ways are entirely just.
A faithful God, without prejudice,
He is righteous and true.
Deuteronomy 32:4
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