Many of us believe that everything depends on us.
Even our relationship with God Almighty.
No, He came to us, He loved us, He died for us, and today He lives for us.
It's not about us. It's all about Him.
There is no such as "a conception of God", despite the heaviest pleadings of AA enthusiasts.
It's not about our choosing God, but rather He is chosen us:
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15: 16)
and
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)
and also
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1: 3)
and then
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2 Thessalonians 2: 13)
Where is our effort? Where is our participation? Where does the argument come from that we need to add our force and effort?
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." (Romans 3: 27)
and
"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:" (Ephesians 2: 5-8)
By grace we are saved, not by works. By His grace we are taken from death to life, not our efforts, not our force, not our works.
Where do we get this idea that our efforts and force are needed?
From the world, the spirit of the air, the spirit of the Enemy which wants us to earn what can only be inherited. Oh, the world is full of this awful spirit, and many church people have given heed to it.
Not me, not today, and not anymore.
Thank you, Jesus, for your incomprehensible gift, which you keep on giving:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Timothy 1: 9)
Saturday, February 28, 2015
No Longer Trying to Protect Myself
In a few times in my life, I found myself in the worst jobs of my career.
I was so angry, frustrated, and afraid all at the same time.
Yet I could not figure out why.
When I look at everything that I had to go through, and I kept wondering:
Why did I go through all that abuse? What was it that had kept me holding everything back for so long?
I then realized, and I experienced this revelation fully: I had believed that everything depended on me, and I was afraid of what I would lose if I stood up to an abusive person, or even an abusive boss.
The God whom I believed in, based on what was taught to me, and what I had been reading in non-Biblical books like Alcoholics Anonymous, was a God whom I had to serve, to whom I owed something, anything, everything.
I had to be the good boy, I had to obey the rules, I had to be nice and get along with everybody.
If we know that we are taken care of in every way, then we stop thinking that we have to protect ourselves. When we recognize that we have something better, we get rid of the old things which we had held onto, including those former, abuse relationships which were never good for us in the first place, but which we tolerated because we thought that we would never find something better.
Or that we were worth better.
Today, I know that I am worth more, because Someone Else gave Himself for me.
It is not based on what I do, but all that He has done. He takes care of me, because He promised that He would.
In fact, He already did by all that was done at the Cross.
The bitterness for the longest time was that in the midst of the abuse and suffering, I had believed that all of it fell upon me to do everything, and then it was my fault because I had not done enough.
Today, I understand that there is no condemnation in Christ, and that even when I did not step up in the past, the pressure is not on me to push back or make it right.
He has taken care of everything, and the only reason I was so angry was that I was trying to take care of everything myself, yet at the same time convinced that I had to play by a set of rules and maintain my own composure at the same time.
I felt dependent on the favors of men for so long. Today, I know that I have and keep receiving the full favors of God Almighty, through Christ Jesus.
The bitterness in the past was all about the failed notion that I had to protect myself, that I had to produce this life on my own.
Now I realize that not only is the grace of God a better idea, but that it is the only idea. Either we believe that He has taken care of everything, or we do not. Either we rest in His goodness, or we don't. It's just that simple.
I was so angry, frustrated, and afraid all at the same time.
Yet I could not figure out why.
When I look at everything that I had to go through, and I kept wondering:
Why did I go through all that abuse? What was it that had kept me holding everything back for so long?
I then realized, and I experienced this revelation fully: I had believed that everything depended on me, and I was afraid of what I would lose if I stood up to an abusive person, or even an abusive boss.
The God whom I believed in, based on what was taught to me, and what I had been reading in non-Biblical books like Alcoholics Anonymous, was a God whom I had to serve, to whom I owed something, anything, everything.
I had to be the good boy, I had to obey the rules, I had to be nice and get along with everybody.
If we know that we are taken care of in every way, then we stop thinking that we have to protect ourselves. When we recognize that we have something better, we get rid of the old things which we had held onto, including those former, abuse relationships which were never good for us in the first place, but which we tolerated because we thought that we would never find something better.
Or that we were worth better.
Today, I know that I am worth more, because Someone Else gave Himself for me.
It is not based on what I do, but all that He has done. He takes care of me, because He promised that He would.
In fact, He already did by all that was done at the Cross.
The bitterness for the longest time was that in the midst of the abuse and suffering, I had believed that all of it fell upon me to do everything, and then it was my fault because I had not done enough.
Today, I understand that there is no condemnation in Christ, and that even when I did not step up in the past, the pressure is not on me to push back or make it right.
He has taken care of everything, and the only reason I was so angry was that I was trying to take care of everything myself, yet at the same time convinced that I had to play by a set of rules and maintain my own composure at the same time.
I felt dependent on the favors of men for so long. Today, I know that I have and keep receiving the full favors of God Almighty, through Christ Jesus.
The bitterness in the past was all about the failed notion that I had to protect myself, that I had to produce this life on my own.
Now I realize that not only is the grace of God a better idea, but that it is the only idea. Either we believe that He has taken care of everything, or we do not. Either we rest in His goodness, or we don't. It's just that simple.
Friday, February 27, 2015
The Pressure is Condemnation
There were so many voices of pain in my head.
There was chronic fear and frustration, that I was never doing enough, that nothing was ever good enough.
I was convinced that if I was not working, then nothing would happen.
The whole world weighed on my shoulders.
Yet what does the Bible say about the world?
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (Job 26: 7)
and yet
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
and also
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
We are more than conquerors today in Christ Jesus, who loved us, and gave Himself for us (Romans 8: 37; Galatians 2: 20-21)
And yet this pressure was ongoing in my life, as though I was not doing enough, and the sentiments of frustration and outrage were so strong
I also believed that I had to do something about these sensate fears and tremors.
I now realize that the proof of God's love of caring is base in the Cross, and that all that Jesus did at the Cross was far more than anything I could have ever understood just by one cursory reading of the Bible.
When Peter writes that we are to "Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord", this includes an expanded awareness of all that happened at the Cross. What Jesus did when He died, and when He rose again, and now that He his seated at the right hand of God the Father, requires us to read the Word and learn more about our inheritance in Christ Jesus!
For the longest time, every time that I felt bad, I was convinced that I had ro do something about that feeling, as though the fears and tumults suggested that God was not there for me, or that I had done something wrong.
I understand now what Paul meant when he said: "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16)
I was too busy trying to conjure up His life in my head and feelings.
That was all wrong.
He was already here and there and everywhere taking care of me.
The Cross was the proof then and now of God's undying, unending love for me.
As for the pressure, I realize today that all of it was condemnation, pure and simple, as though everything depended on me, or else.
This is not my life, and all things do not depend on me. They depend on Him who has been from the beginning! (1 John 2: 12-14)
I kept thinking that I had to resolve the fears and upsets in my head. The truth is that all of these matters have been taken care of, regardless of our feelings.
We believe in the testimony of God our Father and His Son, not because of some leap of fancy, but because of the written word and the evidence in science and history which affirms these accounts.
The pressure is gone because of the Cross, where all the condemnation was eaten away forever.
There was chronic fear and frustration, that I was never doing enough, that nothing was ever good enough.
I was convinced that if I was not working, then nothing would happen.
The whole world weighed on my shoulders.
Yet what does the Bible say about the world?
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (Job 26: 7)
and yet
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
and also
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
We are more than conquerors today in Christ Jesus, who loved us, and gave Himself for us (Romans 8: 37; Galatians 2: 20-21)
And yet this pressure was ongoing in my life, as though I was not doing enough, and the sentiments of frustration and outrage were so strong
I also believed that I had to do something about these sensate fears and tremors.
I now realize that the proof of God's love of caring is base in the Cross, and that all that Jesus did at the Cross was far more than anything I could have ever understood just by one cursory reading of the Bible.
When Peter writes that we are to "Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord", this includes an expanded awareness of all that happened at the Cross. What Jesus did when He died, and when He rose again, and now that He his seated at the right hand of God the Father, requires us to read the Word and learn more about our inheritance in Christ Jesus!
For the longest time, every time that I felt bad, I was convinced that I had ro do something about that feeling, as though the fears and tumults suggested that God was not there for me, or that I had done something wrong.
I understand now what Paul meant when he said: "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16)
I was too busy trying to conjure up His life in my head and feelings.
That was all wrong.
He was already here and there and everywhere taking care of me.
The Cross was the proof then and now of God's undying, unending love for me.
As for the pressure, I realize today that all of it was condemnation, pure and simple, as though everything depended on me, or else.
This is not my life, and all things do not depend on me. They depend on Him who has been from the beginning! (1 John 2: 12-14)
I kept thinking that I had to resolve the fears and upsets in my head. The truth is that all of these matters have been taken care of, regardless of our feelings.
We believe in the testimony of God our Father and His Son, not because of some leap of fancy, but because of the written word and the evidence in science and history which affirms these accounts.
The pressure is gone because of the Cross, where all the condemnation was eaten away forever.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Why The Truth Scares Us
We are afraid of the truth not because we don't want some sense of security in our lives.
We are afraid of the truth precisely because we fear the lack of security, the shame, or the deep depression that will ensue if the truth is known about us.
In Christ, we learn that grace and truth are two sides of the same blessed coin.
When we embrace the truth of who we are, then the grace of God can infuse every area of our lives:
"16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 16-17)
The grace of God flows into our lives, one wave after another, granting us more favor and good in our lives through Him.
In the past, I would put up with people I did not like, or I would endure situations which I did not care for, only because I was afraid of the consequences of speaking up or changing my mind, or doing something else.
Today, because I see how all things are supplied to me through Christ Jesus, I do not have to fear man:
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
(Hebrews 13: 6)
What was the key ingredient which brought everything into focus?
I recognized today that I was still convinced that how I was feeling or what I was thinking would determine whether He was here for me or not.
The mental anguish of trying to hold on for so long - I cannot begin to relate.
I was so afraid to let go, because I was never sure that He would be holding onto me.
For the longest time, I was convinced that I had to hold onto Him.
That was never the case, since we were all sinners who did not care about God, had no idea that He cared about us, that He was interested in taking care of us in all ways.
I was so afraid to walk away from abusive people, because I did not believe that there was someone else, Someone Else was standing in the gap and taking care of me in all ways.
"6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
What is it about the truth that scares us? Nothing really, if we understand that the truth sets us free, and does not bring in us into bondage.
It is the error, the terror of learning the truth, and then then wondering which ends up following.
What if He does not take care of me? What if I look stupid? What will happen to me?
We now know that in Christ we are fully taken care of. This truth is not scary, but rather sets me free!
We are afraid of the truth precisely because we fear the lack of security, the shame, or the deep depression that will ensue if the truth is known about us.
In Christ, we learn that grace and truth are two sides of the same blessed coin.
When we embrace the truth of who we are, then the grace of God can infuse every area of our lives:
"16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 16-17)
The grace of God flows into our lives, one wave after another, granting us more favor and good in our lives through Him.
In the past, I would put up with people I did not like, or I would endure situations which I did not care for, only because I was afraid of the consequences of speaking up or changing my mind, or doing something else.
Today, because I see how all things are supplied to me through Christ Jesus, I do not have to fear man:
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
(Hebrews 13: 6)
What was the key ingredient which brought everything into focus?
I recognized today that I was still convinced that how I was feeling or what I was thinking would determine whether He was here for me or not.
The mental anguish of trying to hold on for so long - I cannot begin to relate.
I was so afraid to let go, because I was never sure that He would be holding onto me.
For the longest time, I was convinced that I had to hold onto Him.
That was never the case, since we were all sinners who did not care about God, had no idea that He cared about us, that He was interested in taking care of us in all ways.
I was so afraid to walk away from abusive people, because I did not believe that there was someone else, Someone Else was standing in the gap and taking care of me in all ways.
"6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
What is it about the truth that scares us? Nothing really, if we understand that the truth sets us free, and does not bring in us into bondage.
It is the error, the terror of learning the truth, and then then wondering which ends up following.
What if He does not take care of me? What if I look stupid? What will happen to me?
We now know that in Christ we are fully taken care of. This truth is not scary, but rather sets me free!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
He is Real: Really Loves Me, Really Care for Me
The Cross is a not a figment of our imaginations.
The Cross is a real event with real consequences.
The problem with AA, and with a great deal of self-help groups, is that these programs push us back to ourselves, to our efforts.
God turns into a fantasy, an imaginary friends, instead of a Real Being who is here for us.
I do not want concepts, I do not want possibilities.
I want concrete certainties.
We have this pledge of truth and grace in the Word of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus.
We need to get over the arguments that His caring for us is about thinking hard or believing long enough.
Not based on our feelings, but the unshakable Finished Work, we know that He loves us and cares for us.
The Cross is a real event with real consequences.
The problem with AA, and with a great deal of self-help groups, is that these programs push us back to ourselves, to our efforts.
God turns into a fantasy, an imaginary friends, instead of a Real Being who is here for us.
I do not want concepts, I do not want possibilities.
I want concrete certainties.
We have this pledge of truth and grace in the Word of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus.
We need to get over the arguments that His caring for us is about thinking hard or believing long enough.
Not based on our feelings, but the unshakable Finished Work, we know that He loves us and cares for us.
 |
| Add caption |
It's a Real Person, a Real Event, a Real Love
I have been dreaming up God's feelings and His love for me.
His love is real, not something that I have to dream up or to conjure up in my feelings.
Just like the wind caressing our faces is real, just like the warmth of the Sun is real, so too the love of God is real, shed abroad in our hearts.
This is not the figment of our imaginations, but the firm promise made real in all that Jesus did at the Cross.
We do not picture for ourselves Jesus.
He is not a fictional character, but a Real Person:
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 16)
And
"For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 17)
Jesus, our Real High Priest, died and rose again, in a Real Event:
"Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead." (Acts 10: 41)
and
"25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." (Romans 16: 25-27)
and
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1: 16)
This Real Person in a Real Event demonstrated a Real Love:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
and
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)
We cannot begin to understand how much God our Father loves us, and what His Son did for us.
We should never stop learning more about this love:
"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)
and of course:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. " (1 John 4: 9-10)
Not an idea, or a concept, or a figment of our imagination: Jesus is a Real Person, who endured a Real Event to show us His Real Love!
His love is real, not something that I have to dream up or to conjure up in my feelings.
Just like the wind caressing our faces is real, just like the warmth of the Sun is real, so too the love of God is real, shed abroad in our hearts.
This is not the figment of our imaginations, but the firm promise made real in all that Jesus did at the Cross.
We do not picture for ourselves Jesus.
He is not a fictional character, but a Real Person:
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 16)
And
"For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 17)
Jesus, our Real High Priest, died and rose again, in a Real Event:
"Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead." (Acts 10: 41)
and
"25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." (Romans 16: 25-27)
and
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1: 16)
This Real Person in a Real Event demonstrated a Real Love:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
and
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)
We cannot begin to understand how much God our Father loves us, and what His Son did for us.
We should never stop learning more about this love:
"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)
and of course:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. " (1 John 4: 9-10)
Not an idea, or a concept, or a figment of our imagination: Jesus is a Real Person, who endured a Real Event to show us His Real Love!
"One Day At a Time" Limits God
I have lived with much of the AA agenda still rattling in my brain.
Not once did I ever challenge the folk "wisdom" pushed by that crappy program.
Today, now that I know the fullness of God's grace, that He has provided all things, and that all He asks us to do is. . .believe Him (John 6: 29), I now have greater confidence not only to come to Him in time of need (Hebrews 4: 16), but have the greater boldness to contend for the faith of Jesus (Jude 1-2).
So, I take another look at the "Live One Day at a Time" mantra.
Is this really sound advice?
For years, I kept hearing this nonsense preached to me. Yet I was beset with questions, and my fears about tomorrow never went away.
If I am living one day at a time, how then do I deal with tomorrow, and the day after? How can I know that He will be there for me?
While the pretense of the cult induces the members to find some solace and peace in these pretenses, it never created any for me.
Yet I was convinced that if I just believed it enough, everything would be fine.
I found that preparing and planning for the future was a terribly frustrating venture.
I feared failure, and the uncertainty of wondering whether I would be taken care of or not was just too much for me to ignore.
Faith, I have since learned, has nothing to do with a blind allegiance to chance suppositions.
Men and women will go nowhere if there is no trust or certainty that all things will be taken care of.
In fact, even when people tried to comfort me with "Everything will be all right", there still was no sense of peace or calm. "Will be" is not a certainty, gave no confidence.
What everyone of us needs to accept is that God is greater than our times and troubles, because through the death and resurrection of His Son at the Cross, we have the clear promise that He will never leave us nor forsake, that our standing and our future is Good Hands.
Living one day at a time makes no sense fr the belieer regenerated receiving new life in Christ.
First of all, we do not live of ourselves, but rather we live because He lives, and He lives in us!
When we understand that He is our life, then we stop looking at our feelings and thoughts, and start taking into consideration His sure certainties on our behalf:
"13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17Wherein 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: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 13-20)
God swore by Himself and His Son, and the two are immutable in their trust and integrity, that they cannot help but bless all of us who believe on the Lord God.
For God, let us also remember that time is not a limit, an obstacle, or even a problem:
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90: 4)
The context for this verse focuses on how light and transient we human beings are.
Peter then references this verse:
"8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (1 Peter 3: 8-9)
Here, the time issue is to give us a sense of patience, not just for our own blessings won at the Cross through Jesus, but also for the many in the world who do not yet believe on Him.
Days and years mean nothing to the same God who spoke all things to exist, and in whom all things consist (Colossians 1: 18).
He holds all our times in His hands, too:
"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." (Psalm 31: 15)
His hands are bigger than all of time, so why settle for one day at time? That limits are understanding of God our Father.
Not once did I ever challenge the folk "wisdom" pushed by that crappy program.
Today, now that I know the fullness of God's grace, that He has provided all things, and that all He asks us to do is. . .believe Him (John 6: 29), I now have greater confidence not only to come to Him in time of need (Hebrews 4: 16), but have the greater boldness to contend for the faith of Jesus (Jude 1-2).
So, I take another look at the "Live One Day at a Time" mantra.
Is this really sound advice?
For years, I kept hearing this nonsense preached to me. Yet I was beset with questions, and my fears about tomorrow never went away.
If I am living one day at a time, how then do I deal with tomorrow, and the day after? How can I know that He will be there for me?
While the pretense of the cult induces the members to find some solace and peace in these pretenses, it never created any for me.
Yet I was convinced that if I just believed it enough, everything would be fine.
I found that preparing and planning for the future was a terribly frustrating venture.
I feared failure, and the uncertainty of wondering whether I would be taken care of or not was just too much for me to ignore.
Faith, I have since learned, has nothing to do with a blind allegiance to chance suppositions.
Men and women will go nowhere if there is no trust or certainty that all things will be taken care of.
In fact, even when people tried to comfort me with "Everything will be all right", there still was no sense of peace or calm. "Will be" is not a certainty, gave no confidence.
What everyone of us needs to accept is that God is greater than our times and troubles, because through the death and resurrection of His Son at the Cross, we have the clear promise that He will never leave us nor forsake, that our standing and our future is Good Hands.
Living one day at a time makes no sense fr the belieer regenerated receiving new life in Christ.
First of all, we do not live of ourselves, but rather we live because He lives, and He lives in us!
When we understand that He is our life, then we stop looking at our feelings and thoughts, and start taking into consideration His sure certainties on our behalf:
"13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17Wherein 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: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 13-20)
God swore by Himself and His Son, and the two are immutable in their trust and integrity, that they cannot help but bless all of us who believe on the Lord God.
For God, let us also remember that time is not a limit, an obstacle, or even a problem:
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90: 4)
The context for this verse focuses on how light and transient we human beings are.
Peter then references this verse:
"8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (1 Peter 3: 8-9)
Here, the time issue is to give us a sense of patience, not just for our own blessings won at the Cross through Jesus, but also for the many in the world who do not yet believe on Him.
Days and years mean nothing to the same God who spoke all things to exist, and in whom all things consist (Colossians 1: 18).
He holds all our times in His hands, too:
"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." (Psalm 31: 15)
His hands are bigger than all of time, so why settle for one day at time? That limits are understanding of God our Father.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
The Arrogance of Holding On
I wanted to feel better.
I wanted to believe that as long as I felt a certain way, I was certain that God was in my life.
The Bible is very clear about what "our part" really is:
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
We have no part, because we could bring no part to bear in redeeming ourselves:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 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: 1-10)
Paul could not repeat it enough: By grace, you are saved. By His favor, not our fervor, are we taken from death to life. God our Father has seated us; we do not seat our selves. We are saved by what He did, not what we did or do, or will do. "Not by works", "gift of faith".
This is something that we all have a problem with as human beings, convinced that the world will not turn without us. Last time I check, God has the world taken care of:
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (John 26: 7)
He does that, not us. He hangs the world on nothing, yet He holds us with both hands:
"28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 28-29)
He has taken care of everything. Our job is to believe it.
For the longest time, I was still demanding that God would show me proof that He cares for me. The highest proof of God's love is that He sent His Son to die for all my sins, and to grant me His life through His Son:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
Yet God's love through His Beloved Son is much greater than any ordinary man's love:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 6-9)
We bring nothing to our salvation. He brought everything, and all we can respond with is: "Thank You!"
How arrogant I was, thinking that I had to feel or think a certain way in order to stay saved, or to stay connected to God. Yet much of this misunderstanding came from a distorted knowledge of God's Word, plus the traditions of men masquerading as truth.
I wanted to believe that as long as I felt a certain way, I was certain that God was in my life.
The Bible is very clear about what "our part" really is:
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
We have no part, because we could bring no part to bear in redeeming ourselves:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 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: 1-10)
Paul could not repeat it enough: By grace, you are saved. By His favor, not our fervor, are we taken from death to life. God our Father has seated us; we do not seat our selves. We are saved by what He did, not what we did or do, or will do. "Not by works", "gift of faith".
This is something that we all have a problem with as human beings, convinced that the world will not turn without us. Last time I check, God has the world taken care of:
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (John 26: 7)
He does that, not us. He hangs the world on nothing, yet He holds us with both hands:
"28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 28-29)
He has taken care of everything. Our job is to believe it.
For the longest time, I was still demanding that God would show me proof that He cares for me. The highest proof of God's love is that He sent His Son to die for all my sins, and to grant me His life through His Son:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
Yet God's love through His Beloved Son is much greater than any ordinary man's love:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 6-9)
We bring nothing to our salvation. He brought everything, and all we can respond with is: "Thank You!"
How arrogant I was, thinking that I had to feel or think a certain way in order to stay saved, or to stay connected to God. Yet much of this misunderstanding came from a distorted knowledge of God's Word, plus the traditions of men masquerading as truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)