Keep thyself pure, Exercise free volition, Keep thyself in the fear of the Lord all the day long. These are three, first being: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15 A Pure heart produces Charity, faith, and a good conscience, from 1 Timothy 1:5 — Purifies from unlove, unfaith, bad conscience. The Pure in heart see God and think on pure things. Paul served with a pure conscience. Pure hearts hold righteousness, faith, charity and peace; find wisdom, purify themselves by obeying the truth through the Spirit. (All taken from Bible truths). There was a servant in Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s house who used to do all the household chores. Vidyasagar always showed him affection and treated him like his family members. One day, when Vidyasagar was descending the stairs of his house, he saw…
Category: <span>Walk, for Christians</span>
You are the object of His concern. Cast all distracting, parting, disuniting, differing and soliciting care on Him. Cast out fear, with perfect love. Cast off the unfruitful works of darkness, put on the armor of light. Cast out the bondwoman. Cast down imaginations and high things for these exalt themselves against His person. Don’t cast away your confidence; …it has great recompense of reward. With patience the promise will come. A man must inventory his soul. He must shepherd his spirit. He must identify things such as emotions, fears, anxiety, and distractions, which carry him away captive. Then, bring it all back to Christ alone, “The Finisher of all works of peace — (liberty, unity, brotherly love and faith rest). But you say,”I can’t! What’s happening? I’ve lost my authority,” Cast those thoughts down! “It doesn’t seem to work.” — Cast that thought down! “I’m overwhelmed by…
Martha received him into her house. Sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Martha was dragged about with much serving. Martha said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disturbed about many things (needy). But one thing will supply the need: Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:37- Sisters fighting? No, pictured are 2 kingdoms at war. A highly motivated agenda vs. A highly relaxed “it is finished” positioning. Anxiety-fueled unsettledness vs. rest-filled right-mindedness. Disturbed resentment vs prioritized excellence. slavish pose vs friendly exchange superficial honoring vs. heart honor Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,…
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4 I’ve noticed three different kinds of trials which could describe the work of perfecting Inconvenience: The broke down car-it eventually gets fixed. Disappointment: The car that just doesn’t repair — never gets fixed. Disillusionment: the car accident that is from hell.-I never want to drive again. All trials challenge every ounce of faith. They destroy natural faith. “Let patience have her perfect work.” “Let your patience endure that you may be stable, mature, and complete when I speak to you, with no defects in your capacity to listen.”Dr. Carl Stevens “Our patience, as it endures, will always bring forth a vision.” Stevens Isaiah 35:7 is an illustration of what God will do for us in the valley: “I will take the parched ground and make it a pool.” Dr.Carl…
“Amor fati” fellow fanatics, “amor fati!” translated “The love of fate.” “It is foolishness to oppose a tendency which is obviously a law of history and to take countermeasures against a trend which is a natural law.” Nietzsche. Really? Does history itself have a personality, does it have a mind? Is that raucous tide able to bend or yield? Where goes it? What are its ends? Can we change history? The fatalists emphatically say “no.” Apparently “history,” the person, is not like the redeemed saints who realize God’s image. The will of the lover of fate is already determined and cannot change. Therefore worshipers at this altar cannot stop the inevitable. They just “go with the flow.”– Whether death or life. What the historo-gods rule, they carry out through forced will. The Christian perspective is in diametric opposition to these ideas. We say indeed, history, (His story), will take a certain…
On this day 12 years ago our son Joshua went to heaven. Now, what do we want? To see him again soon. You lit up our lives for a short 25 years and we miss you today, Josh, and the wait seems long; but eternity is longer. Can’t wait! St. Augustine says: He that loveth little, prayeth little; he that loveth much, prayeth much. What do you want? Surprisingly we rarely visit this thought. What do I need, what can I eat, what do I need to do and what does God want, are questions more common. Christians say, “I lost my vision when things didn’t work out and now I am just meandering.” “What do you want?” When I dutifully focus on my Savior. He says “what do you want?” Some folks in the Bible got healed because when Jesus asked them “what do you want?” —they had an answer.…
The way of the saint: Forsakes the broad plain for the skinny path. Our way does not circumvent obstacles, but warps us to destinations. Philip was translated (beamed?), to Azotus, so Elijah upward, and so Enoch the same. — So we also, (snatched away) at that trumpet sound. Jesus walked to the dock and took a row boat to the disciples’ fishing craft. Not! He rather skipped on the waves! Joshua asked his priests to step in river Jordan; a whole nation followed step as the waters stood as “Jello.” — Dry ground paved the way. Case after case the magical passageways translate the saint. Through death we go — In fire not burnt, in waters not swallowed. Whether Red Sea or Lions den, the sting of death we scorn – then skate across. Our part and God’s part. Elijah begged for the storm, wind and earthquake to…
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? — to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4 A man stands or falls before God; with the risk of acceptance or rejection he stands in front of God, his Maker. What does God want from him? To be a winner of souls with wisdom required. To be a fisher of men. This is it? To have a secure philosophy? Not enough. To be a good looker? It can help, but falls short. No, to be a draw to others requires one thing — standing before God. Before God , a man is held up. He stands erect. This enables him to win other men. So, here he stands, and standing with God’s watchful eye he is guided. Guided where? — “Into all…
The tightrope act spoken of in Paul’s word to Ephesus, 5:15, is not for fools. It takes precision, a sure footed walk and a certain pace. Insight and skill are essentials toward, “Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time,” — the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God,”– j.F.B. says “Special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, of which believers ought diligently to avail themselves.” The slip of foot can mean falling on broken glass in the analogy. Although the days are “evil,” and infection surrounds, this season is precious; a field to be bought for a pearl. Avail yourself to the opportunities. Each is but once in a lifetime. For such a time as this, we breathe. Our steps must be ordered, established, sure. Our pace in sync with the proper cadence, we press onward. Man plans the pathway, the Lord directs the steps. A…
Life is not without hindrance, nor our walk without encumbrance. Impediments characterize our earthly travelling, interruptions are familiar. We get holdups and stoppages, difficulties and deterrents; sometimes it seems that this is all. These interferers challenge us sometimes to the max. We are fed up or have had it up to here. We moan, Why? — why is everything so hard? I want to give you some solace, but first let’s try to find some out-of-the-box answers. Out-of-the-box happens when no “normal” answers suffice, but also, we fear a total breakdown or quitting. Daydreaming, illicit fantasy, or nonchalance is not what we mean by out-of-the-box. We cannot discard our concern, be indifferent or take on a new level of “cool.” Instead, we mean that the restrictive parameters of in-the-box thinking must be willing to face their ultimate death. They are simply not cutting the mustard for success. First of these for consideration: quit…