“The truth, however, is that Job was suffering for others, that he was, by the grace of God, a martyr… ” “The righteous sufferers, the martyrs, what are they? Always the vanguard of humanity. Where they go and the prints of their bleeding feet are left, there is the way of improvement, of civilization, of religion. In contrast, the most successful man, preacher, journalist or statesman, is popularly supposed to be leading the world in the right path. Where the crowd goes shouting after them, is that not the way of advance? Do not believe it. Instead, look for a teacher, a journalist, a statesman who is not as successful as he might be; he will, at all hazards, stand for the true. The Christian world does not yet know the best in life, thought and morality. He who sacrifices position and esteem to God’s righteousness, he who will not bow down to the great idol at the sound of sack-but and psaltery, observe where that man is…
Category: <span>Liberty – Redemption</span>
“Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9 “When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 2 Corinthians 1:17 What is lightness? (Hebrews. to stagger.) Websters defines “fickle” with “Wavering; inconstant; unstable; of a changeable mind; irresolute; not firm in opinion or purpose; capricious.” “Not fixed or firm; liable to change …” Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Paul had conceded that he would die in verse 9 above. Indeed, there had been a self-verdict which conformed him to Christ’s death already.…
Subjectivity is the lack of objectivity. Objectivity is the assertion that a thing IS that thing regardless of how it is perceived. Subjectivity is the assertion that what the thing IS is dependent on how it is perceived. The Objective view is that this is an elephant regardless how it is seen. The Subjective view is that each person is right. Melissa-Faith Webster, BA from CSUSB. Focused on Philosophy of Science and Epistemology. First the bad news: Subjectivity establishes: a mindset that is a direct result of Adam’s Fall. a preoccupation with self, evaluation of people, and situations evaluation of the Word of God according to relative righteousness The Subjective are: arrogant, which masks a poor self-image, often suspicious of people’s motives and even paranoid. Subjective people: are occupied with themselves, hide themselves from church, often become sarcastic in relationships with others, eventually, they want counseling, Subjective folks: are offended…
“The Lord cannot fully bless a man until He has first conquered him.” —The call to nearness enables the resistance of worldly temptation.” A.W. Tozer We surrender when conquered, we yield when broken, we capitulate when exhausted; we “cease from our own works.” Ironically, a faith begins here, and also a hope, and also love. As the project stalemates we find contentment with the Project Manager. His presence defines our new beginning; He-in-us becomes hope-of-glory. His nature in us describes love. Oddly enough, finding Him and losing me arrive simultaneously. My dreams dash, my visions smash, my passivity or enterprise collapses and burns. Will breaks now, resolve buries, conscience bears hampering, and emotions buck comfort. Rational explanations hide, we concede. As children we wrestled with my Dad for fun. He would pin us down and cry out, “give up?” We would squirm only to be pinned again. “Give up?” Finally, we got tired, pinned the last time;…
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…
“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…
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…
“When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream,” is Psalm 126. Israel can return home after 70 years of living under another government, another culture; deprived of their own development as an indigenous nation. 70 years was enough to sever roots, to destroy customs, to eradicate tradition, to nullify old standards and norms, holidays and hopes. The homeland was now a story told, a remembrance, a dream. “Displaced” life was not first for Israel at Babylon; Egypt and the Wilderness were Promised Land exiles also. Later, the Absalom rebellion dislodged God’s people while still at home. Then there was the splitting of the national pie into two unequal servings — 10/2 tribes. In this time, many and varied philosophies forced their way down God’s people’s throats from Godless Judean and Samaritan kings. 70 A.D. till 1948 was last and longest for Israel. In reference…
“Silent night, holy night! Son of God loves pure light. Radiance beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord at thy birth.” Sorry Aquarians, but it is the dawning of the age of redeeming grace, Christ has come. “Redeeming grace” means past dispensations are over. God is governing with grace, “the Law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Merry Christmas!! Mercy and truth are met together! Righteousness and peace have kissed each other! It was never before known; “… The mystery of Christ, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” — “…which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” These thoughts are from Ephesians 3. Catch the freshness, the heart-thrilling glory of this event. “He will…