Now more than ever, I understand the crucial importance of looking at Jesus, and not at ourselves.
All the thoughts and feelings that I wrestled, all of that self-talk that many of us engage in (to our hurt), all of it was not necessary. We are not transformed by looking at ourselves. We do not get better by looking at ourselves, by trying to fix our thoughts and feeling.
We get better when we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
The grace of God, His favor in our lives, teaches us all things:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Grace is all about having something good to look forward to, as well: "Looking for that blessed hope."
We have this confidence because of Jesus, who lives in us, too!
"27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 27-29)
Christ Jesus lives in me. I want to be more interested in who He is, not in who I am, or what I am lacking.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)
We are complete in Christ, which means we need to see more of Christ Jesus in our lives:
"4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." (Philemon 4-7)
Our faith works as we see more of Jesus.
For this reason, John describes maturity thus:
"13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning." (1 John 2: 13-14)
Fatherhood is not based on how old we are, but that we know the Father of the Ages. Fatherhood is not a function of how many children we have, or how many of those children have grown up into functional, productive adults.
Fatherhood, growth in grace, maturity in the faith, is all about seeing Jesus. See Him as your Savior today, not just as God made flesh who saved you two thousand years ago when He died on the Cross.
Monday, January 19, 2015
"I Will Be a God To You" Answers All
"I Will be a God to You!" answers every concern.
For the longest time, I was concerned that how I felt determined whether He was near or far.
What if, what about? Will everything work out?
When Jesus died on the Cross, He sent the message loud and clear to the entire Universe:
Everything is taken care of.
This is still taking me a while to understand.
Once again, what does the writer of Hebrews counsel us to do?
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
It is not something that happens over night or right away.
We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).
That invitation is hard to accept, sometimes, because the first thing that I want to do when things do not seem to be working right . . .is to fix it.
Then we return to God's Promise: "I will be a God to you."
That is the answer. That truth, that revelation answers everything.
For the longest time, I was concerned that how I felt determined whether He was near or far.
What if, what about? Will everything work out?
When Jesus died on the Cross, He sent the message loud and clear to the entire Universe:
Everything is taken care of.
This is still taking me a while to understand.
Once again, what does the writer of Hebrews counsel us to do?
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
It is not something that happens over night or right away.
We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).
That invitation is hard to accept, sometimes, because the first thing that I want to do when things do not seem to be working right . . .is to fix it.
Then we return to God's Promise: "I will be a God to you."
That is the answer. That truth, that revelation answers everything.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
No More Hypervigilance
For the longest time, I was so bitter.
So easily embittered, too.
I could not understand why I would replay hurtful and painful images and memories in my mind.
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8: 32)
The lie which I had believed for a long time, was that I was responsible for protecting myself.
He is protecting me.
He is not going anywhere, regardless of how I feel.
The matter of entering into the rest makes more sense today than ever before.
If I felt bad, if things were going bad, right away I would get busy with trying to figure out what I needed to do, what I needed to know, or what was missing or what I needed to find out about.
I was thinking about what I was going to do about tomorrow.
That question makes no sense today, because I understand that the Cross answers every need.
Amen.
So easily embittered, too.
I could not understand why I would replay hurtful and painful images and memories in my mind.
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8: 32)
The lie which I had believed for a long time, was that I was responsible for protecting myself.
He is protecting me.
He is not going anywhere, regardless of how I feel.
The matter of entering into the rest makes more sense today than ever before.
If I felt bad, if things were going bad, right away I would get busy with trying to figure out what I needed to do, what I needed to know, or what was missing or what I needed to find out about.
I was thinking about what I was going to do about tomorrow.
That question makes no sense today, because I understand that the Cross answers every need.
Amen.
He Has Taken Care of Everything: Believe Him!
This revelation is too great for me to wrap my ahead around.
Once again, the Bible is way ahead of me on this truth: He has taken care of everything:
"
Once again, the Bible is way ahead of me on this truth: He has taken care of everything:
"
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:2-3)
He has taken care of everything. He has been taking care of everything.
In fact, He promises to take care of us in every way:
"
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
"I will be a God to you. . ."
He has taken care of everything.
This promise does not come into effect based on the mindset we carry. Something is not true because we believe it long enough and hard enough. We believe what He has said because what He has said is true:
"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: " (Hebrews 6: 17-18)
God cannot lie, but we need to put aside our unbelief:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
and
"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20: 27)
Also
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)
We are invited to believe the following:
"And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat." (Joshua 24: 13)
This promise is a shadow of the substance we have received through Christ Jesus:
"1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:1-2)
As a reminder, here is the Gospel, or the Good News:
"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Of Course We Can Change!
Just Sayin' Victoria Ordin•3 months ago
"You can't change anyone but yourself." Ummm...okay. So what if in a moment of self-defense you shot the person and changed them from being alive to being dead? Might be an option if you can't escape and your life is in danger--as a matter of fact, it might be your only option,
Of course you and I can change.
It's called growth.
But as long as you spend more time looking at yourself, then you do not grow.
Instead, you find that you stagnate, frustrated that there is still bad thoughts and feelings in your life.
There is no greater pain than being all caught up in yourself, thoughts, feelings, and all the rest.
This revelation is new, and getting newer.
It took me so long to realize that peace is already outside.
Not turning on ourselves and churning about the failures that we see in ourselves.
Life is outside of us. Peace is outside of us, then we discover that His peace has found its way within.
In other words: we are changing.
Guess what? People do change, and for the better, too!
The Bibles talks about how God is in the people-changing business all the time:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and also
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 2: 12)
Guess what? God works through us to change others, too!
"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (2 Corinthians 5: 11)
We persuade not with lies and cults, but the truth of God's Word!
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;" (1 Peter 3: 1)
Do not buy the AA lie: people change all the time, and they change for the better as they grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3: 18)
Of course you and I can change.
It's called growth.
But as long as you spend more time looking at yourself, then you do not grow.
Instead, you find that you stagnate, frustrated that there is still bad thoughts and feelings in your life.
There is no greater pain than being all caught up in yourself, thoughts, feelings, and all the rest.
This revelation is new, and getting newer.
It took me so long to realize that peace is already outside.
Not turning on ourselves and churning about the failures that we see in ourselves.
Life is outside of us. Peace is outside of us, then we discover that His peace has found its way within.
In other words: we are changing.
Guess what? People do change, and for the better, too!
The Bibles talks about how God is in the people-changing business all the time:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and also
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 2: 12)
Guess what? God works through us to change others, too!
"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (2 Corinthians 5: 11)
We persuade not with lies and cults, but the truth of God's Word!
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;" (1 Peter 3: 1)
Do not buy the AA lie: people change all the time, and they change for the better as they grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3: 18)
Thanks for "Just Sayin'", Just Sayin'!
Soooo...are rape victims complicit in their bad situations, too? You do know that there are a lot of AA members who are really into rape, including incestuous rape, right?
If you were harmed by someone, there is no reason to blame or shame someone for that harm.
Granted, we can all practice wise judgement to avoid terrible things happening to us, but rape is rape, and anyone who perpetrates it is the criminal, not the person who was raped.
And why is reacting a bad thing? In extreme situations, reacting on impulse (like the self-defense shooting I mentioned in another comment) could save your life. Getting a divorce from an abusive spouse might be another "reaction" that keeps you alive and well. And after you split from the dumb brute, no Al-Anon required. Suppressing reactions actually leads to the exact kind of "people-pleasing" behavior that Al-Anon considers a symptom of codependency. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Damn, that was a really good point you just made right there! The AA cult does indeed force people into these lose-lose situations. No matter what they do, even when they are right, they are still wrong, and they have to take their own inventory, work their own programs, etc.
I agree that addicts and alcoholics are frequently "DSM-narcissistic," but that is a case of chicken-vs.-egg fallacy. Recent research has shown that sociopaths are over-represented amongst substance abusers--in other words, the narcissism most likely caused the addiction, not the other way around, and will most likely continue long after the addict/alcoholic is sober. There is no reason to try to salvage this and "learn to cope serenely one day at a time," folks. It will only get worse.
Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS on your CHARMING use of ALL CAPS to make a point.
Yes, and yes again. Thinking that you are the center of the universe, and finding that the world does not agree with you -- that can lead to roaring benders all the time. Of course, dealing with what set of the narcissism is much more important. There are abusive elements in our lives which we should never cope with. Never. Because there is a lack of understanding on this issue, people do drink or abuse themselves in other harmful ways.
Alcoholism is a symptom of other lies, distortions, and abuse. Twelve Step programs perpetuate the abuse, rather than deal with the lies and promote the truth.
If you were harmed by someone, there is no reason to blame or shame someone for that harm.
Granted, we can all practice wise judgement to avoid terrible things happening to us, but rape is rape, and anyone who perpetrates it is the criminal, not the person who was raped.
And why is reacting a bad thing? In extreme situations, reacting on impulse (like the self-defense shooting I mentioned in another comment) could save your life. Getting a divorce from an abusive spouse might be another "reaction" that keeps you alive and well. And after you split from the dumb brute, no Al-Anon required. Suppressing reactions actually leads to the exact kind of "people-pleasing" behavior that Al-Anon considers a symptom of codependency. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Damn, that was a really good point you just made right there! The AA cult does indeed force people into these lose-lose situations. No matter what they do, even when they are right, they are still wrong, and they have to take their own inventory, work their own programs, etc.
I agree that addicts and alcoholics are frequently "DSM-narcissistic," but that is a case of chicken-vs.-egg fallacy. Recent research has shown that sociopaths are over-represented amongst substance abusers--in other words, the narcissism most likely caused the addiction, not the other way around, and will most likely continue long after the addict/alcoholic is sober. There is no reason to try to salvage this and "learn to cope serenely one day at a time," folks. It will only get worse.
Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS on your CHARMING use of ALL CAPS to make a point.
Yes, and yes again. Thinking that you are the center of the universe, and finding that the world does not agree with you -- that can lead to roaring benders all the time. Of course, dealing with what set of the narcissism is much more important. There are abusive elements in our lives which we should never cope with. Never. Because there is a lack of understanding on this issue, people do drink or abuse themselves in other harmful ways.
Alcoholism is a symptom of other lies, distortions, and abuse. Twelve Step programs perpetuate the abuse, rather than deal with the lies and promote the truth.
Really Looking at AA
I just found this comment on a post called "Are you safe in an AA meeting?"
Just Sayin'•9 days ago
Just Sayin'•9 days ago
Also, has anyone ever looked at the "To Wives" chapter of the AA Big Book (not actually written by Lois Wilson but rather ghostwritten by Bill 'n' friends because he thought she was too dumb to do the job)? I mean, *really* looked at it? Here's a sample: "[The alcoholic] struck the children, kicked out the door panels, smashed treasured crockery, and ripped the keys out of the piano." And the answer was to go to Al-Anon, not be a "nag, killjoy or wet blanket," and serenely wait for the husband to sober up in AA.
I liked that phrase "really looked at it."
Putting aside whatever program men and women have been force-fed, there is no running away from the facts that AA is a demented, sick cult. The people who have been victimized by drunks in their lives should not be shamed into merely putting up with the abuse.
Everyone does indeed need help, but the grace of God was never to be replaced with license to sin, because sin is death.
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, back up. He struck the children? And the answer is to be all serene and go to Al-Anon? No, the answer is to strike that bastard back with a blunt object and call the cops. Children are not like pianos or crockery. They cannot be replaced. I guess if wifey has to choose between getting her husband into the program and tending to Junior's fractured skull, the husband's sobriety should come first. Just be serene and "detach" and soon the rampant child abuse won't bother you. After all, if you actually do something to resolve this dire situation and/or nurture your children and keep them safe and, you know, get help for their injuries, then you are just a codependent "fixer."
Wow! These comments are a welcome departure from the AA cheer-leaders who promote the wicked Twelve Steps without thinking twice, or "really looking at AA".
But not to worry! If the kids survive, then they can spend the rest of their lives in Alateen and ACOA talking about how Dad beat them within an inch of their lives every weekend while Mom stood by and did nothing because she was "practicing detachment." Now the whole family can play!
Love that sarcasm!
Alcoholics Anonymous is another wicked infusion of therapy, when it is the truth which sets us free.
I liked that phrase "really looked at it."
Putting aside whatever program men and women have been force-fed, there is no running away from the facts that AA is a demented, sick cult. The people who have been victimized by drunks in their lives should not be shamed into merely putting up with the abuse.
Everyone does indeed need help, but the grace of God was never to be replaced with license to sin, because sin is death.
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, back up. He struck the children? And the answer is to be all serene and go to Al-Anon? No, the answer is to strike that bastard back with a blunt object and call the cops. Children are not like pianos or crockery. They cannot be replaced. I guess if wifey has to choose between getting her husband into the program and tending to Junior's fractured skull, the husband's sobriety should come first. Just be serene and "detach" and soon the rampant child abuse won't bother you. After all, if you actually do something to resolve this dire situation and/or nurture your children and keep them safe and, you know, get help for their injuries, then you are just a codependent "fixer."
Wow! These comments are a welcome departure from the AA cheer-leaders who promote the wicked Twelve Steps without thinking twice, or "really looking at AA".
But not to worry! If the kids survive, then they can spend the rest of their lives in Alateen and ACOA talking about how Dad beat them within an inch of their lives every weekend while Mom stood by and did nothing because she was "practicing detachment." Now the whole family can play!
Love that sarcasm!
Alcoholics Anonymous is another wicked infusion of therapy, when it is the truth which sets us free.
I Will Be a God To You
I have written many times on this blog about the dangers of trusting in your own conception of God.
I can now answer with clearer conviction than before why that AA is dangerous.
A god of my understanding is a god whose understanding is limited to my own.
If we step into new and different situations, who knows whether that god of my understanding will or will not be there.
This nonsense about our own conception of God diminishes the revelation of the True God, who loves us unconditionally, and cares for us in spite of our worst failures:
"
I can now answer with clearer conviction than before why that AA is dangerous.
A god of my understanding is a god whose understanding is limited to my own.
If we step into new and different situations, who knows whether that god of my understanding will or will not be there.
This nonsense about our own conception of God diminishes the revelation of the True God, who loves us unconditionally, and cares for us in spite of our worst failures:
"
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
This promise has been one of the hardest for me to settle into.
Now I understand why the writer of Hebrews wrote earlier:
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
We need to work at not working, so to speak, to believe that He has taken care of everything.
That part has been the hardest for me, and it does take an element of labor, or rather patient enduring.
For the longest time, the setup of "what are you going to do about. . .?" was a prevalent concern in the back of my head. A litany of concerns would rise up in my mind, and then I would spend the greater part of my mental energy answering these fears and concerns.
Yet the inner discussion never brings peace.
The unswerving, unwavering promises of God, they bring peace. This peace is a fruit of the Spirit, by the way, not something which we generate in our effort.
But the matter of "I will be a God to you" is so crucial. This promise is based on the truth that He is propitious, has paid for our sins, has remembered them in the body of His Son Jesus.
Still, though, I find myself from time to time smarting about tomorrow. I ask myself "What will happen tomorrow?" as though He does not have everything taken care of.
Yet this new revelation is also taking shape, taking place, and gaining precedence in my mind.
The tomorrow that I am concerned about, is just as present to God as today is present to me.'
This awareness cannot be conceived within man's own head.
This revelation is based on an acceptance of the truth of God's Word.
He has finished tjhe job. He has taken care of everything.
He wants to rest us now, if we will let Him (Matthew 11: 28)
Like too many people in this world, I have confused feelings with rest. That is wrong.
He is a God to me, regardless of how I feel, or what others may think, or even anything that I or someone else does or does not do.
"17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" (Ephesians 6: 17)
The helmet of salvation does not just mean that I am saved, but that Jesus is still in the business of saving me:
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5: 8)
Every Christian should have a confident expectation of good because of all that Jesus has done for us. Amen!
He promised to be a God to us. Let us pray for a growing revelation of this love (Ephesians 3: 16-19), and grow in grace and knowledge of this wonderful savior! (2 Peter 3: 18).
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Life is a Person (Not a Problem)
I am not used to life not being a set of problems that need to be fixed.
This is all a new element to me.
I was not used to the notion that God is gracing me, and continues gracing me.
I was so stuck on the false notion that life was about fixing the problems.
No way!
Life is a Person, and this Person cares deeply about you and me!
Life is a Person:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
Not an example to keep, not a standard to meet, but a King who reigns, and wants us to reign with Him:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
All of this is so new to me.
All of this may seem too new to you, too.
You mean, this life is not about trying to make yourself better?!
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 4-10)
If God your Father has placed you in Christ, above everything else, there is no "making yourself better".
So, get over it!
Life is a Person, and He is all about you:
"10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
and
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
He is Life. The problem is that we want problems to fix, rather than resting in the truth that He is fixing our problems, and has solved the greatest, sin and death, at the Cross.
This is all a new element to me.
I was not used to the notion that God is gracing me, and continues gracing me.
I was so stuck on the false notion that life was about fixing the problems.
No way!
Life is a Person, and this Person cares deeply about you and me!
Life is a Person:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
Not an example to keep, not a standard to meet, but a King who reigns, and wants us to reign with Him:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
All of this is so new to me.
All of this may seem too new to you, too.
You mean, this life is not about trying to make yourself better?!
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 4-10)
If God your Father has placed you in Christ, above everything else, there is no "making yourself better".
So, get over it!
Life is a Person, and He is all about you:
"10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
and
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
He is Life. The problem is that we want problems to fix, rather than resting in the truth that He is fixing our problems, and has solved the greatest, sin and death, at the Cross.
Friday, January 2, 2015
No More Fires, No More Frustration
I have been so accustomed to putting out all the fires in my life.
I was caught up in the lies which had told me that I had to feel, to think, to be a certain way.
All of our feeling comes from what we are thinking, and what we are thinking must be informed by the truth.
Do we believe that we have been set free from all sin for all time, or don't we?
That is what it all comes down to.
The fires go out when we rest in the truth of God's Word.
When we believe what the woman caught in the act of adultery had believed:
"11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:" 11)
At this time, I am upset, but for one simple reason: for so long, I was lied to, I was told what was not the truth.
I was taught the Twelve Steps.
Yet even in writing this, I must recall that another man had every right to be bitter, Caleb, but he was not:
"6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Joshua 14: 6-12)
God kept Caleb strong and healthy. Age did not touch him or slow him down one bit.
The Prophet Joel records the blessings of honor restored, and lost things found for us:
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2: 23)
Not only can we expect the former and the latter rain, but it will come upon us without warning, and that is for the first month. I cannot imagine what the second, or even the third month may bring, for there is no limited with God our Father.
Isaiah prophesied of the honor which we all receive because of Jesus, too!:
"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 7)
Paul describes this victory thus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
God is in the redemption, restoration, and resurgence business. Even in this fallen earth, we can believe that God our Father, who took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), is bringing all our enemies under our feet (Psalm 110: 1).
The time will come very soon, when I can see the grace of God taking every hurt and pain, every setback and loss, and seeing how He has richly turned all things toward my good (Romans 8: 28).
Thank you, Jesus!
I was caught up in the lies which had told me that I had to feel, to think, to be a certain way.
All of our feeling comes from what we are thinking, and what we are thinking must be informed by the truth.
Do we believe that we have been set free from all sin for all time, or don't we?
That is what it all comes down to.
The fires go out when we rest in the truth of God's Word.
When we believe what the woman caught in the act of adultery had believed:
"11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:" 11)
At this time, I am upset, but for one simple reason: for so long, I was lied to, I was told what was not the truth.
I was taught the Twelve Steps.
Yet even in writing this, I must recall that another man had every right to be bitter, Caleb, but he was not:
"6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Joshua 14: 6-12)
God kept Caleb strong and healthy. Age did not touch him or slow him down one bit.
The Prophet Joel records the blessings of honor restored, and lost things found for us:
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2: 23)
Not only can we expect the former and the latter rain, but it will come upon us without warning, and that is for the first month. I cannot imagine what the second, or even the third month may bring, for there is no limited with God our Father.
Isaiah prophesied of the honor which we all receive because of Jesus, too!:
"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 7)
Paul describes this victory thus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
God is in the redemption, restoration, and resurgence business. Even in this fallen earth, we can believe that God our Father, who took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), is bringing all our enemies under our feet (Psalm 110: 1).
The time will come very soon, when I can see the grace of God taking every hurt and pain, every setback and loss, and seeing how He has richly turned all things toward my good (Romans 8: 28).
Thank you, Jesus!
You Lied to Me! (Grace is the Truth)
We have to be staunch about the truth of God's grace.
There is no room for error, for fraud, for deceit, or distortion.
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8: 31-32)
The severity of the truth is so important, that Jude, in the last epistle before Revelation, did not reserve his concern:
"3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)
The grace of God teaches us to say "No!" to sin and "Yes!" to godliness, first of all (Titus 2: 11-14)
We have to understand that the Grace of God is not a one-time shot, but something which we receive and keep receiving (Romans 5: 17)
We do not go from grace to the law, which the Galatians tried to do.
Nor is grace a license to sin, because sin brings for the death, and the grace of God is granted to us that we may have life -- His life!
I have had such a transformation of peace and relaxation in my head.
For the longest time, a sense of shame was so prevalent in my life. No matter what I did or did not do, I was assaulted by a sense of shame and hurt.
The worst art about much of this, though, was the sense that I had to do something, anything, that I had to keep the bad thoughts at bay as much as possible.
Today, I understand the truth of the Gospel, and that the problem for the longest time has been precisely this obsessive sense that I have to do something. Instead of reviewing the hurt and upset from times now long gone, or agitating over the feelings and trying to fix or medicate them, I realize that every demand has been met in Christ Jesus.
There is no waffling this. We cannot add one thing to what He did.
Yet for many years, I was taught to do exactly that. My father put up a copy of the Ten Commandments on the wall in our house. My mother was a Stepper Mom, addicted to the Twelve Steps. We are called to receive more of His life, not strive in our own efforts.
For years, I was convinced that I just needed to try a little harder, do a little more. No one had ever told me that law and grace is how we meet the world we live in. Either we are working for everything, or we are receiving all thing from Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14)
The issue is not about holding our thoughts in line, or feeling a certain way.
It's about resting in the truth of all that Jesus has done. It's about the truth. Grace is not a preference, or a different way of living. It is the truth, and cannot be rejected if we want to receive the Good News. Paul was clear and unwavering:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1: 6)
and
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
and finally
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22: 21)
In many churches, there is such emphasis on us, not on Him. Sometimes, I imagine Jesus standing outside, almost jokingly saying: "Hey, I am the head of this organization. May I come in?" Jesus is alive, and invites us to receive more of Him. Do churches talk about grace? Do they talk about the gift of righteousness? Do they talk about Jesus, our living savior?
Too often, I find that is not the case. In some cases, I have heard outright lies: "God will give you only so many chances, then He will leave you."
That is a lie from the pit of hell. I am not settling for the lies, distortions, and disregard of the truth so prevalent in many churches. The truth of God's grace is not being preached, not being revealed.
I feel lied to, cheated. I needed the truth, and what I was getting was comfort measures. I feel like the Danny DeVito character in "Throw Momma from the Train: "You lied to me!"
Grace is the truth, and both are one in Christ Jesus:
"The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
There is no room for error, for fraud, for deceit, or distortion.
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8: 31-32)
The severity of the truth is so important, that Jude, in the last epistle before Revelation, did not reserve his concern:
"3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)
The grace of God teaches us to say "No!" to sin and "Yes!" to godliness, first of all (Titus 2: 11-14)
We have to understand that the Grace of God is not a one-time shot, but something which we receive and keep receiving (Romans 5: 17)
We do not go from grace to the law, which the Galatians tried to do.
Nor is grace a license to sin, because sin brings for the death, and the grace of God is granted to us that we may have life -- His life!
I have had such a transformation of peace and relaxation in my head.
For the longest time, a sense of shame was so prevalent in my life. No matter what I did or did not do, I was assaulted by a sense of shame and hurt.
The worst art about much of this, though, was the sense that I had to do something, anything, that I had to keep the bad thoughts at bay as much as possible.
Today, I understand the truth of the Gospel, and that the problem for the longest time has been precisely this obsessive sense that I have to do something. Instead of reviewing the hurt and upset from times now long gone, or agitating over the feelings and trying to fix or medicate them, I realize that every demand has been met in Christ Jesus.
There is no waffling this. We cannot add one thing to what He did.
Yet for many years, I was taught to do exactly that. My father put up a copy of the Ten Commandments on the wall in our house. My mother was a Stepper Mom, addicted to the Twelve Steps. We are called to receive more of His life, not strive in our own efforts.
For years, I was convinced that I just needed to try a little harder, do a little more. No one had ever told me that law and grace is how we meet the world we live in. Either we are working for everything, or we are receiving all thing from Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14)
The issue is not about holding our thoughts in line, or feeling a certain way.
It's about resting in the truth of all that Jesus has done. It's about the truth. Grace is not a preference, or a different way of living. It is the truth, and cannot be rejected if we want to receive the Good News. Paul was clear and unwavering:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1: 6)
and
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)
and finally
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22: 21)
In many churches, there is such emphasis on us, not on Him. Sometimes, I imagine Jesus standing outside, almost jokingly saying: "Hey, I am the head of this organization. May I come in?" Jesus is alive, and invites us to receive more of Him. Do churches talk about grace? Do they talk about the gift of righteousness? Do they talk about Jesus, our living savior?
Too often, I find that is not the case. In some cases, I have heard outright lies: "God will give you only so many chances, then He will leave you."
That is a lie from the pit of hell. I am not settling for the lies, distortions, and disregard of the truth so prevalent in many churches. The truth of God's grace is not being preached, not being revealed.
I feel lied to, cheated. I needed the truth, and what I was getting was comfort measures. I feel like the Danny DeVito character in "Throw Momma from the Train: "You lied to me!"
Grace is the truth, and both are one in Christ Jesus:
"The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Rest is All About Grace and Truth
When I learned about putting aside the negative feelings and hurts, I thought that this life was about chronically pushing against bad thoughts and feelings.
If I was feeling fearful, I then responded with doing something about the feelings, whether that movement entailed telling someone about how I felt or writing out a set of steps, or doing something.
Sometimes, I would eat. I now understand why people reach for food, alcohol, or other comfort measures. Individuals needs to do something with the stress of being God in their own lives, if they do not believe that He is taking care of them.
No matter what the AA book may claim about letting go and letting God, there really is no letting go as long as a member has to keep taking his inventory, fearing that he may be cut off from God for any reason.
The Bible is very clear -- "I will NEVER (double negative, emphatic) leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5)
The same iron clad certainty is found in Romans 8: 1: There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Period. (The part about "walk after the spirit, not the flesh" is not in the original Greek).
We need to believe the truth of God's Word, and rest in the Truth that in Christ, the Work is Finished, and that He is alive, working in us and through us (Philippians 2: 12-13)
The problem for all of us is that we are holding onto what other people tell us, not what God has told us.
We are believing what men and women have shared, but not what the Bible reveals: Jesus.
Let us look again at the banner verse:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
The verse could not be clearer: "As He is", not "As He was". Jesus is no longer on the earth as a prophet coming to fulfill the law, while bringing down the traditions of the elder Pharisees, and bringing the fullness of the law to their attention.
He is now our High Priest forever, and He will come again as our King.
This is the truth.
Yet for the longest time, I was holding onto the fears and lack of faith of other people. I had read and received the testimony of God's Word time and again. Yet at the same time, I was holding in my mind the fears, worries, and old ideas of other people.
Those old ideas include Alcoholics Anonymous, another man-centered cult dedicated to making the most of man, and acting as if the problem of sin does not exist, that if we try harder working Twelve Steps, then everything will work out.
We need life, and in Christ Jesus, we have life, and that more abundantly.
There is indeed nothing wrong with the Word, there is nothing wrong with God, and because Jesus became sin, and is our propitiation forever more, we can come boldly before God our Daddy, because of His Son Jesus!
We can rest assured in all that Jesus has promised for us. When I sense frustration or fear, I now rest in the truth of God's grace, and recognize that those fears and tumults are lies.
Instead of trying to explain away the frustration, fear, or anxiety, I rest in the truth of His love, the Cross, and all that He accomplished there.
That recognition of His perfect love casts out all fear.
WOW!
If I was feeling fearful, I then responded with doing something about the feelings, whether that movement entailed telling someone about how I felt or writing out a set of steps, or doing something.
Sometimes, I would eat. I now understand why people reach for food, alcohol, or other comfort measures. Individuals needs to do something with the stress of being God in their own lives, if they do not believe that He is taking care of them.
No matter what the AA book may claim about letting go and letting God, there really is no letting go as long as a member has to keep taking his inventory, fearing that he may be cut off from God for any reason.
The Bible is very clear -- "I will NEVER (double negative, emphatic) leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5)
The same iron clad certainty is found in Romans 8: 1: There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Period. (The part about "walk after the spirit, not the flesh" is not in the original Greek).
We need to believe the truth of God's Word, and rest in the Truth that in Christ, the Work is Finished, and that He is alive, working in us and through us (Philippians 2: 12-13)
The problem for all of us is that we are holding onto what other people tell us, not what God has told us.
We are believing what men and women have shared, but not what the Bible reveals: Jesus.
Let us look again at the banner verse:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
The verse could not be clearer: "As He is", not "As He was". Jesus is no longer on the earth as a prophet coming to fulfill the law, while bringing down the traditions of the elder Pharisees, and bringing the fullness of the law to their attention.
He is now our High Priest forever, and He will come again as our King.
This is the truth.
Yet for the longest time, I was holding onto the fears and lack of faith of other people. I had read and received the testimony of God's Word time and again. Yet at the same time, I was holding in my mind the fears, worries, and old ideas of other people.
Those old ideas include Alcoholics Anonymous, another man-centered cult dedicated to making the most of man, and acting as if the problem of sin does not exist, that if we try harder working Twelve Steps, then everything will work out.
We need life, and in Christ Jesus, we have life, and that more abundantly.
There is indeed nothing wrong with the Word, there is nothing wrong with God, and because Jesus became sin, and is our propitiation forever more, we can come boldly before God our Daddy, because of His Son Jesus!
We can rest assured in all that Jesus has promised for us. When I sense frustration or fear, I now rest in the truth of God's grace, and recognize that those fears and tumults are lies.
Instead of trying to explain away the frustration, fear, or anxiety, I rest in the truth of His love, the Cross, and all that He accomplished there.
That recognition of His perfect love casts out all fear.
WOW!
Thursday, January 1, 2015
It's the Truth of God's Word
Perfect Love does indeed cast out all fear.
I am starting to realize that for the longest time, I was making my feelings the final arbiter of peace and harmony.
If I felt bad, then I was bad. If I felt good, then I was good.
Crazy stuff!
Most importantly, though, I was so caught up in how I felt because I had tied believing with feeling.
Faith is all about taking God at His Word.
When it comes to growing in grace, though, I realize that the greatest hindrance of faith is either our lack of knowledge of God's Word, or our adherence to the law, to our efforts, rather than His grace.
I spent so much time trying to push aside fearful premonitions about the future.
Yet the answer could not be clearer in the Bible, from the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
I am starting to realize that for the longest time, I was making my feelings the final arbiter of peace and harmony.
If I felt bad, then I was bad. If I felt good, then I was good.
Crazy stuff!
Most importantly, though, I was so caught up in how I felt because I had tied believing with feeling.
Faith is all about taking God at His Word.
When it comes to growing in grace, though, I realize that the greatest hindrance of faith is either our lack of knowledge of God's Word, or our adherence to the law, to our efforts, rather than His grace.
I spent so much time trying to push aside fearful premonitions about the future.
Yet the answer could not be clearer in the Bible, from the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
All of these promises are kept for us because of the Cross. There, Jesus shed His blood, became sin on our behalf, and gave us His standing before God.
All God the Father asks us to do is. . .believe on Him!
Today, I have a greater understanding of what it means that God's weapons are mighty, bringing down every stronghold.
Those strongholds are truly painful, difficult, do not budge easily. For longer than I care to admit (or remember) that I would fight with every bad thought, every bad feeling.
The Bible is the final testimony on every issue. Today, I choose to take God at His Word, not how I feel about it.
I do not fret about tomorrow, because I have the promise of His Word.
If there are any "what ifs" and "yeah, buts" in our lives, they emanate from nothing more than the lies and distortions taught to us by others, whether in our best interests or the worst manipulation.
What does God's Word say about us? What does the Word of God say, which no one can argue with?
That is all that matters, and any conflict on the matter is irrelevant across the board.
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