[ad_1]
[ad_2]
Bob
Source link
Tag: Lord
-
No Purpose, No Direction, No Way
[ad_1]
They say the only sure way to get Satan’s attention is to begin to turn one’s life to Christ. I’ve heard many ministers refer to a person’s lifestyle as but an entryway for the devil to gain access to your world. Supposedly, as long as you engage in the things and happenings of this world, Lucifer has no need to spend any energy dealing with the struggle for your eternal soul. You see life’s trials and temptations alone are enough to sentence any one of us to an afterlife void of the Lord, which if you didn’t know it, is the quintessential definition of hell itself.
As we use up our time here in the physical world, sometimes we lose sight of the obvious. A life without purpose, a life without direction, a life without faith is a life wandering aimlessly on a highway headed straight to hell. The devil does not need to work to gain access to this life. He can merely wait at the
toll booth entrance to hell and collect unsuspecting souls on the way by. You know when you’ve partied so hard that even the next day doesn’t clear the stupor of the night before? In this regard, I’m suggesting that maybe some of us could at least make the devil sweat just a little bit while he manipulates your life’s circumstances.
On the other hand a life dedicated to purpose, steeped in integrity and anchored in faith instantly becomes a target for Satan’shand. I’m trying to put him to work every day by appealing to the Lord to allow me to do His will everyday as opposed to myown. The reality is that Satan is coming for anyone who tries to hear and respond to God’s Word. “Some people are like seeds along the path where the Word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the Word that was sown in them.” Mark 4:15.The question is if you know this, then what you doing, if anything, to arm yourself against the inevitable onslaught awaiting anyone trying to be true to God’s Word.“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14.
The point of all this is to let you know that as a believer, you have a neon sign that shines brightly in all the kingdoms of this world and the next. It alerts everyone around you to the true mission of your soul’s existence, which is to honor God. For the record Satan cannot stand the thought that your love of God could supersede his ability to wreck your world.You see I’m told he also loved God dearly at one time. He came, however, to love himself more. If he has his way, you and I and everyone will come to love ourselves more than welove Almighty God. And if that ever happens, I hope you have your toll booth token ready, because you will have just bought your ticket straight to hell.“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of thecross of Christ.Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is their shame. But our citizenship is inheaven…” Philippians 3: 18-20. I only hope, I sincerely hope that you recognize the next trial or temptation headed your way is but a speck on the windshield of your life,a mere splattered piece of nothing standing in your way to the Promised Land. Any other consideration would be a mistake and an insult to God.
May God bless and keep you always.
This column is from “Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian” by James Washington. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey towards spiritual enlightenment.
Related
[ad_2]
James Washington
Source link -
You Really Can’t Hide From God
[ad_1]
You know, it’s pretty hard for people to lead with their weaknesses as opposed to showing off their perceived strengths. We all like to let the world see us in our best light. It’s for other reasons that we want to keep our shortcomings hidden in the dark, hopefully never to see the light of day. Some of us can even trick ourselves into believing that our true self is the one we show to others and not the one we take to bed with us, by ourselves each and every night. The longer we hide from ourselves, the more we’re likely to have difficulty understanding and then dealing with who we really are as people. Some might call it denial.
The problem with spiritual denial is it’s impossible to do. You cannot deny your own sinfulness. You cannot hide from your own sin. There is no rationalization for the exclusion of God in your life. Regardless of how much you want to show the world your high moral standards or perceived high spiritual standing, when it comes right down to you and God, that dog simply won’t hunt. In order to get your life in balance, you must first recognize the futility of trying to come off to others as if sin is not a part of who you really are. Then again, isn’t it how you come off to the Lord that’s the issue?
After all, when the lights go out, and it’s just you, are you really alone? Maybe that’s why some people need to have anything but silence and solitude as companions. In relation to God, it’s not a very comfortable situation because you know, in God’s eyes, you’re never alone. You know, in God’s eyes, you can’t even run, let alone hide. Wherever you are, He is. Whatever you are, He knows. Whatever you did, well, that’s the nature of God. And the nature of the Lord says to lead with your weaknesses. Bring Him your sins. Confess, and then, maybe, then, and only then can you and your God take positive action about your life. But first, we’ve got to take care of the basics. Empty the closet. Acknowledge the dirt. Understand its nature. Then, bring it into God’s house. He’s the only one who can clean it up anyway. He’s the only one who can, and by His nature, will accept what He’s interested in. That’s one of the many beauties of Christ Jesus. His life and death and life paid for and took care of the need to hide your sinful nature from anyone.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.Confession allows God to enter into the picture. Confession is a declaration that comes from a place inside you that you mistakenly think is controlled by you. Once you recognize and accept who is really in control, then from that point on, you become an example to the world that openly declares, My name is (insert your name), and I’m a sinner who has been saved. God has accepted me for who I really am. It’s now your turn because, without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I am everything. Look at me and learn. Examine me and see Him. I am who I am, blessed in the sight of God, and I pray that He will also bless you always.
Amen…
Related
[ad_2]
James Washington
Source link -
Undefeated Love
[ad_1]
There’s a belief or a saying, at least, that love conquers all. In the secular world the reference is to the power of emotional love to compel men and women to do extraordinary things. Love is said to move us to do the unthinkable with sometimes positive and in many instances negative results. One of the reasons for this apparent inconsistency lies with another saying and that is “Love is blind.” Again, in this secular world nothing can be reckless and misdirected as blind love. Now take the same saying and apply it with biblical references and it takes on a whole new meaning. Love conquers all. Just for the sake of giving an example, God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. The greatest commandment is love of your neighbor as yourself. God is Love. Out of love, we have been saved. From this perspective love takes on a set of characteristics that only result in positive endings.
I’m reminded that spiritual love differs from secular love in that one is conditional and the other is not. By that I mean love in this sense, from its biblical basis, is an unconditional state of being. Love, according to scripture, is a constant. It never ceases to be and it never ceases to give.
I believe that is what is meant by unconditional. Love by and other definition is not love. It is a perversion of God’s great gift to us. Love like faith requires covenant. I am moved by Daniel’s prayer,” O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love HIm and obey His commands…” Daniel 9:4. I must tell you that this sums up quite a bit for me about this subject. Unconditional love begets something less than unconditional love in return. So all of this begs the question how do you love someone? How do you attempt to love God? Unconditional does not mean undisciplined. It does not preclude commitment.
As a matter of fact scripture would indicate that you can’t have anything real happen in your life unless it’s based on the love about which I speak. Our entire existence is seen from the perspective of love of family, mother, father, wife, son, husband, fellow man, God. Jesus was crucified based on this love. Isubmit to you that our obligation to each other is to attempt to love ourselves in such a manner as to recognize the God within us and to then appreciate the God in everyone else. We are then in a covenant relationship with self, each other and therefore in line with the covenant that God has with man. The end result then must be a positive outcome. Jesus’ crucifixion had a positive outcome. I submit again that his very directed and guided love will always guarantee an outcome consistent with the wishes of God. Therefore again I say in this context love conquers all. It is our reason for being. It is the reason for salvation”…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him.” 1 John 4:16.
May God bless and keep you always.
The following passage is from “Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian” by James Washington. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey towards spiritual enlightenment.
Related
[ad_2]
James Washington
Source link