I say “our” because I don’t think I’m the only one who has ever had this problem.
There is a devious accuser snooping around in the back of our thoughts seeking for ways to undermine our walk with God by accusing our motives.
We know that God wants us to really submit our hearts and minds in Him. We exert full effort to come before Him openly and without guile. As we move into that realm we start to sense His blessing. We’re tempted to think, “I’m doing it right. God is blessing me.”
Then, unbidden and unwelcome, comes the voice saying,” Well, you are making it work, aren’t you? You play-act like God’s obedient child and He is buying it. You and I both know what you’re really like—your weaknesses, your thoughts, your disobedience.
“Go ahead, play the game but remember, I know what you’re really like.”
“You are wrong, enemy of my soul. Yes, I often fail, but He knows I come to Him with a sincere heart and He blesses my life and work—in spite of my failures. He would never reject the thirst and reach of my heart towards Him and my desire to please Him. His love and forgiveness are far greater than your accusing words.”
“…How do we change our personal devotional life to reflect the life of reception, seeking God’s gifts as beggars rather than His applause as performers?” Martin Luther: Grace Upon the Cross
Martin Luther’s words make us see we can never believe our personal piety brings God’s blessing. We can only approach Him as beggars undeservedly receiving God’s favor.
My first motive when reaching toward God is to come honestly and humbly before Him. That first motive is what God judges us by. He then exposes and deals with me about the human imperfections that try to sabotage my motives.
How perfect is His plan and His understanding.
Some have said, “A righteous God is man’s greatest creation.”
Wrong.
No human mind could ever devise such an intricate and thorough plan as God's.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
THE ANCIENT COIN AND TAXES
Is it possible that this coin I am now holding was actually held by the treasurer of the Twelve named Judas? Did it jingle around in the Disciples’ purse?
Extremely unlikely but this bronze prutah coin was in circulation in Jesus’ time. And nobody could say it was impossible that it was once used to buy food for the Master.
Just thinking the question is a bit overwhelming.
And it made me think.
Judas was the purse-bearer, the money handler, for Jesus and the Twelve. It appears that he managed well enough to keep the group financially viable for more than three years. Once, however, he did have to go to the fish’s mouth get the money to pay the taxes.
Taxes were budget busters then, too. It’s clear that the Disciples did not have a tax-exemption that American 501 C 3 organizations have enjoyed for decades.
A couple observations: Judas sold his own soul and the life of the Redeemer who would have forgiven him for thirty coins.
And throughout all history men and governments have traded their own souls money.
Jesus-hating leaders appear to be ready to take away any tax exemption for charitable giving that enables the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Godly financial planners should be telling their clients of the still viable ways to plan their estates in ways that lock in tax benefits now and at the same time promote the Gospel—the only hope for our nation and its economy.
It’s a double win if they do. A double loss if they don’t.
Extremely unlikely but this bronze prutah coin was in circulation in Jesus’ time. And nobody could say it was impossible that it was once used to buy food for the Master.
Just thinking the question is a bit overwhelming.
And it made me think.
Judas was the purse-bearer, the money handler, for Jesus and the Twelve. It appears that he managed well enough to keep the group financially viable for more than three years. Once, however, he did have to go to the fish’s mouth get the money to pay the taxes.
Taxes were budget busters then, too. It’s clear that the Disciples did not have a tax-exemption that American 501 C 3 organizations have enjoyed for decades.
A couple observations: Judas sold his own soul and the life of the Redeemer who would have forgiven him for thirty coins.
And throughout all history men and governments have traded their own souls money.
Jesus-hating leaders appear to be ready to take away any tax exemption for charitable giving that enables the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Godly financial planners should be telling their clients of the still viable ways to plan their estates in ways that lock in tax benefits now and at the same time promote the Gospel—the only hope for our nation and its economy.
It’s a double win if they do. A double loss if they don’t.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
THE SUBTLE AND LETHAL TRAP
One of God’s life-giving promises is, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Jean and I marvel every day at the blessings God has allowed us to experience and take part in.
Once you have known a life of blessings as you have truly sought God first you can be confronted with a subtle and lethal trap.
We look back and realize that the blessings started when we took the actions that
God set as conditions to receive the promises. The enemy tempts us to think it was our doing that qualified us.
That’s the trap.
Our obedience is not creative it is only acceptive. God does the creating and just requires us to live as acceptors of His mercy and grace. It’s God’s doing, not ours.
To God be the glory
Jean and I marvel every day at the blessings God has allowed us to experience and take part in.
Once you have known a life of blessings as you have truly sought God first you can be confronted with a subtle and lethal trap.
We look back and realize that the blessings started when we took the actions that
God set as conditions to receive the promises. The enemy tempts us to think it was our doing that qualified us.
That’s the trap.
Our obedience is not creative it is only acceptive. God does the creating and just requires us to live as acceptors of His mercy and grace. It’s God’s doing, not ours.
To God be the glory
Thursday, July 23, 2009
HELL'S DEVIL PLANNED IT...
Hell’s devil planned it and it is working.
There has been a widespread and increasingly emboldened assault on Jesus, the Bible, and believers.
Hollywood.
Educators.
News Media.
Wall Street.
Politicians.
Unregenerate religious leaders.
It is an all-fronts barrage coordinated in hell.
Society has degenerated to the point that the most effective marketing tool is blatant sex (including perversions that used to mean jail).
The ability to cleverly deceive is praised. Lie has become king. Hell has its own unholy anointing on liars. Society’s wisdom is that the first one to accuse wins. Courts award the cleverest liar. America no longer believes its government.
Marketers and legislators will do to you whatever they think they can get by with. They sneer at the word integrity.
The very word SIN used to shiver the soul, now it is used as an advertizing lure.
Result? A sin-immersed society in which anything goes. If it feels good, do it.
But then there’s that irritating voice of God that pricks even the most hardened heart reminding them of their sin.
To try to shut down or drown the Voice men intensify the noisy, strident, screeching anti-Jesus, blaring shrieks from hell. “Everybody’s doing it,” tries to overpower, “Thou shalt not.”
None of this has killed Truth whose name s Jesus. Hell may have a plan but so does Jesus.
He has given us free use of His Name—The Name to which every knee shall bow. The Name that is a strong tower the righteous can run into and be safe.
Every time we declare The Name we build The Tower higher and wider. Let’s invite everybody we can to enter The Tower.
We Christians need to build into our daily lives the profuse use of The Name Jesus. Be deliberate and intentional finding ways to introduce The Name in every conversation.
Roll the cameras and presses, plug in the microphones and flood the internet with our Savior’s awesome Name.
There has been a widespread and increasingly emboldened assault on Jesus, the Bible, and believers.
Hollywood.
Educators.
News Media.
Wall Street.
Politicians.
Unregenerate religious leaders.
It is an all-fronts barrage coordinated in hell.
Society has degenerated to the point that the most effective marketing tool is blatant sex (including perversions that used to mean jail).
The ability to cleverly deceive is praised. Lie has become king. Hell has its own unholy anointing on liars. Society’s wisdom is that the first one to accuse wins. Courts award the cleverest liar. America no longer believes its government.
Marketers and legislators will do to you whatever they think they can get by with. They sneer at the word integrity.
The very word SIN used to shiver the soul, now it is used as an advertizing lure.
Result? A sin-immersed society in which anything goes. If it feels good, do it.
But then there’s that irritating voice of God that pricks even the most hardened heart reminding them of their sin.
To try to shut down or drown the Voice men intensify the noisy, strident, screeching anti-Jesus, blaring shrieks from hell. “Everybody’s doing it,” tries to overpower, “Thou shalt not.”
None of this has killed Truth whose name s Jesus. Hell may have a plan but so does Jesus.
He has given us free use of His Name—The Name to which every knee shall bow. The Name that is a strong tower the righteous can run into and be safe.
Every time we declare The Name we build The Tower higher and wider. Let’s invite everybody we can to enter The Tower.
We Christians need to build into our daily lives the profuse use of The Name Jesus. Be deliberate and intentional finding ways to introduce The Name in every conversation.
Roll the cameras and presses, plug in the microphones and flood the internet with our Savior’s awesome Name.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
NOTICE
I am finding Facebook and Twitter to be very effective ways to communicate.
I will keep my blogger account open as an archive but will post more frequently on these other two places.
What wonderful new communication means will we have a year from now?
I will keep my blogger account open as an archive but will post more frequently on these other two places.
What wonderful new communication means will we have a year from now?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
AMERICAN HERO
Lt. Col. Paul Kari was tortured in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison for eight years. He went back to Hanoi with Ben and me and we visited the prison. I watched this great man deal with agonizing memories and still forgive his torturers.
Here's a lesson I learned. If you will make your hurting places become forgiving places God will turn them into healing places.
I saw it work for Paul.
Here's a lesson I learned. If you will make your hurting places become forgiving places God will turn them into healing places.
I saw it work for Paul.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
