tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84848133468674686382023-11-16T01:20:10.619-05:00SIGHT, RENEWEDDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-607180030048097822018-08-06T09:38:00.002-04:002018-08-06T09:41:30.035-04:00But Who Do You Say That I Am? <style type="text/css">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Jesus asks every person this question: but who do you say I am?</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A myriad of opinions exist in the world about the nature of Jesus. Was he a teacher? A good person? A lying rebel? A prophet?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">In Matthew 16, Simon Peter answers this question to Jesus's satisfaction: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. What an answer! It’s uncertain whether Peter really knew the gravity of that answer. If Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, then he envelopes all of perceivable reality. It demands an ordering of the world toward which we do not naturally incline.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. It’s a profound truth that escapes many of us. The dynamic of how God relates to people is revealed in this statement. God enables people to exercise free will - meaning, the ordering of intent, planning of his way - but God is the one who ultimately gets to decide on the outcome. Does God control man’s mind or will? No. But does he get the final say on where man gets to go? Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">We would be wise to heed what Jesus says. It is possible that he was a crazy man who made up words about who he is. In which case, we can simply ignore his claims and go on with our day, clinging to some other worldview that helps us form our plans. But if Jesus’s words are true, well, it is a fearful reality for anyone who ignores him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">“To the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23) We live in a broken world in which we must search for and pursue the ideal. No one is really completely satisfied or secure in a fixed and permanent manner. There is always something, or at worst, death, that looms over us all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">If Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God, then in him lies the salvation we are all longing for. If we are wise, we will at the very least look very carefully and openly into who Jesus is. What he offers possesses an impact of such value that is worth the sacrifice of all that we possess. And if it’s true, then we have found the ideal we have been searching for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">For those who have already professed faith in Christ, we must come back to the recognition of Jesus’s position in the universe. Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3) What a reality! What Jesus says goes, and nothing is impossible. If all of this is true, what might be the appropriate attitude of the believer when he or she wakes in the morning?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Who do you say that I am? Jesus asks us each moment of our lives. He desires that we know who he is so that we can order our way rightly. When our plans are aligned with his, it will be he, the Lord of the universe, who establishes our steps.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Come to Jesus, the Son of the living God, with open and empty hands. Ask him for his opinions and desires for your life. He who holds the universe will hold your life safe and secure - for his glory and for your good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-71659545177088967622017-01-03T09:07:00.001-05:002017-01-03T09:14:38.384-05:00The Frightening ConquererWho is the most formidable opponent? It is he who possesses the ability to turn your best weapons and abilities against you. Imagine going into a fight with someone who not only tests your weaknesses but uses the greatest arsenal in your kit to crush you.<br />
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How frightening. </div>
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For all of mankind, there is a powerful weapon aimed at the core of its existence: death. The inevitable power of death looms over us and eventually takes over no matter how strongly, deftly we fight against it. For man, death is such a frightening conquerer. Its means? Violence. </div>
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Whether it's death through war and tragedy or old age or illness, violence causes breakdown which leads to death. Whether it's a bullet or a tidal wave or cellular/DNA degeneration, violence rampantly brings down the human race toward death.<br />
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Are you frightened? </div>
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But, is there one who takes the best weapon of death - violence - and crushes that insurmountable enemy? Yes. And he is the true frightening conquerer. </div>
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Jesus Christ came to conquer. His aim was to defeat death and its violence. How did he accomplish this? With greater violence? Did he kill death with brute force as death would do? </div>
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Jesus's weapon was love. Love that lays one's own life down to serve another. Such love - preserving another at one's own expense - is antithetical to violence which serves the self at the cost and destruction of the other. Jesus let violence upon himself knowing that the love with which 1) he himself laid down his life for his beloved and 2) the Father has for those who are faithful will shatter and demolish death and its power. Love came down and conquered death.<br />
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God, who is love, has shown us that he is the true frightening conquerer. </div>
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If God could conquer death in such a frightening way, using its utmost power of violence against itself, then there is a hope for us who are struggling today. </div>
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We know that death is a wage of sin. No sin, no death. Yet, the crippling reality for many of us is that this sin is rampant in our lives, and it despairs us of the resulting brokenness and creates haunting doubt of whether we will get to the destination we hope for. </div>
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If this is you, there is good news for you.<br />
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For if God is the frightening conquerer and he has given us son, then we know that our worst sins will be turned into the greatest weapon of his redemption. Our struggle with sin in the past, present, and future will all be worked together for good in the redemptive power of love that resides in Jesus Christ. When we are burdened with our sins that enslave us, we can look beyond the immediate oppression to the one who oppresses sin. Jesus will surely return, and he will crush our enemy with the might of his steadfast love. </div>
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One day, our frightening conquerer will descend on the clouds. On that day, all of our tears will be wiped from our eyes and we will exult in the shadow of our Redeemer. Look to that day today, for if your trust is in Jesus Christ, it is surely yours. </div>
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O Lord, come! </div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-8397551549660723472016-12-31T13:59:00.001-05:002016-12-31T13:59:31.018-05:00Don't FretI was at a high school retreat this past week to lead worship. On the last day, I found some of the equipment broken and my guitar damaged and began to fret. I know that these were caused by carelessness and disregard by others, and I began to vent angrily at the situation.<br />
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The effect I had on the others were immediately felt. Smiles and laughter became muted, the talking ceased, and the team who were helping me break down slowly began to position themselves farther from me. My negativity was felt. And even though in my bones I felt justified in fretting over the damage, I was soaked with a sense of wrongdoing and brokenness.<br />
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Fretting seems like a small deal, but it has consequences on relationships that are far more expensive to fix than broken equipment. Oftentimes, I fret about small things. Reparable things. Things that with a little bit of effort can be rectified. Yet, these small moments of fretting come at a great cost. Fretting causes division between people, a fixation upon the unfixable past, the breaking down of the life that has been given to love, construct, and move forward. The damage caused by fretting is vastly more difficult to restore.<br />
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From now on, I want to fret not.<br />
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Today, I spilled some roasted tomato juice on a new pair of selvedge jeans. I began to fret about how annoying the situation was and a surge of anger began to rise from within me. Probably because of the equipment episode, I was able to recognize what was happening and step back to think. The effort needed to clean these jeans probably takes no more than 15 mins of my time to google a fix and apply it. In the worst case scenario, I just buy new jeans. What's the big deal? Is it worth spending in sullenness the hours of time that I will never get back?<br />
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But what if it was irreversible. Not a pair of jeans but my face? Not a mic stand but my vocal cords? What if the damage is of the traumatic kind? Should we fret then?<br />
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It's incredible that we can fixate on something so small as stained jeans. It's moments like these that prevent us from seeing the unfathomable reality of eternity. If Jesus is coming back to restore everything at the cost of his life, where he not only lost his body but his soul and spirit, then all of our afflictions are momentary. There is reason to rejoice even in our suffering.<br />
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I'm not saying that we shouldn't grieve or hold back our emotions. When we're angry, we should be angry. When we're sad, we should be sad. But do we let these emotions control us onto destruction? Do we need to be enslaved by them? No.<br />
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What can do is to give the appropriate response to any situation. And the eternal nature of God's gift to us in Christ, once grasped, becomes to context within which we measure all our mishaps. We can weep over tragedy as Jesus wept over Nazarus's death. Yet, just as Jesus knew what would happen in a moment, and therefore moved on to call his name out of his grave, we can move forward in our moments of frustration knowing that one day Jesus will call our name from all the brokenness of this life onto eternity with him.<br />
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So don't fret. Look up and look forward. Jesus is calling.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-79298998491246479462016-09-18T21:38:00.004-04:002016-09-18T21:38:51.263-04:00SeasonsThese days I'm reflecting a lot on the seasons of life. Without our consent, events and circumstances come and pass as time progresses, adding and subtracting from us, shaping our lives with a relentless force we cannot deny. We can only play along, if we are to be wise, if we would take time to understand the times. To ignore or dismiss the seasons would be like wearing winter coats during the heat of summer. But we're so good at numbing ourselves to the seasons. We stay locked up in the dungeon of our hearts, flustering with the broken A/C, deluding ourselves with false securities.<br />
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I don't know if this is true, but I feel a sense of change in season in my life. The past few years made up a season in which death had to clear the path for new life. A seed cannot grow and flourish unless it's planted in fertile soil. The winter months come, bringing death to what is old. And before the seeds can be planted firmly and fruitfully, the land is tilled. The soil is ploughed and harrowed turning over fresh soil and burying the old, dead crops to become the base for the growth and harvest of the new seed.<br />
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It's remarkable how poignant a metaphor this is for life. We are born and raised with a dizzying complexity of presuppositions and fallacies. Weeds are strewn all over, heavy boulders lay crush the soil, a lack of protection fails to keep robbers and pests at bay. We grow up with obstructions in our hearts that are too stubborn to remove by will. For life to birth, winter must come. The tiller must do his work. Only then can the seed grow and become fruitful, yielding a harvest.<br />
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I've spent many years of my life misguided with foolish assumptions about life. Not only that, there have been wounds and scars that have crippled me from living life in the manner it was designed. My brokenness and folly have led me to pursue what is worthless and deceive myself to a destructive end. Without a certain, and clear, death proving to me what is folly as opposed to wisdom, I couldn't fully commit to the convictions of wisdom and life. This past season has proved to me these things. By God's grace I've come to the sobering and undeniable conclusion that I am like a mere grass that is here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow. There is nothing I deserve. And yet I have lived with a sense of entitlement that views God as his slave. A death of me had to come in order that I could see the reality of the fear and majesty of God. I am his subject. Not the other way around.<br />
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I feel the tide turning. As the spring sprouts leaves and fall yields harvest, I am finding victories previously unattainable that point to the hope of fruitfulness.<br />
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I don't know what kind of season you're in, but I hope that you will take a moment with me to reflect where you are. In all these things, there is a God who is faithful and whose love remains through the changes. If we hold onto him, he will make sure that our hearts become fertile ground that yields a harvest of righteousness. May we cling to him, even as the seasons change, and seek his unfailing love to mold us according to his image. Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-31970385648337861282016-08-20T23:02:00.003-04:002016-08-20T23:08:12.262-04:00AlienationAs I struggle with the frustrations of my own alienation, I remember that the reasons for the rejection of me are deserved. I earned every right to be flung off, cast out, and condemned. When I find myself isolated and unwanted, it's because I am a sinner who sowed sin unto a harvest of desolation.<br />
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When I realize this truth, it relieves me of my pain. When I ask myself, "why is it that people seem to find me unlikable," I realize that it's because I'm unlikable. Because of sin, there is brokenness in my life that I will need to battle through. It's supposed to be this way. It's relieving to know.<br />
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But I also realize a greater truth. There was once a man who deserved nothing but praise, nothing but affection, nothing but true, unyielding adoration yet was deserted. He was betrayed by all of his friends. More than that, he was cast off by his Father whom he loved for all of eternity. He was cast off for me. Alienated for me. So that before him, I never have to bear the burden of my deserved rejection. In Christ, I am always welcomed, loved, and embraced - all because Jesus, my savior, bore my sins on the cross.<br />
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Because of Christ, I am never alone, never forsaken, never rejected. And one day, when he returns, I will never feel this alienation again. There will be no more tears and no more pain. O Lord, come!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-54186910574168050142016-06-23T00:11:00.000-04:002016-06-23T00:11:02.491-04:00Our GloryWhat was Job's glory? Why is he so significant and highly regarded?<br />
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Job remained steadfast to God all the way to the end.<br />
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When everything is taken away from us, will we, like Job, remain steadfast?<br />
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The glory that we are called to achieve is to hold on and cling to God who remained steadfast to us. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the master and ruler of the universe, remained on the cross and endured the wrath of God. He remained steadfast to the end, and therefore God exalted him above every name (Phil 2).<br />
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"God doesn't promise us better life circumstances. He promises us a better life."<br />
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Tim Keller often says this statement, and I must concur. Furthermore, he promises a better life by enabling us to remain in him all the way to the end.<br />
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When we encounter trials of all kinds, we must realize that they are not outside of God's plan. Rather, it's through excruciating circumstances that God refines us into the image of his son. It's why we ought to rejoice and be glad in these times of hardship. We are assured of God's masterful work in our lives and given the chance to glory in the eternal, incomparable riches of God in Christ.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-65062725318284413862016-06-08T12:45:00.001-04:002016-06-08T12:49:15.697-04:00How to Overcome AddictionLittle do we know that there all kinds of addictions that rule our lives in big and small ways. Addiction isn't limited to substances, taboo'ed activities, nor pure moral failure. Addiction is about how we attach ourselves to reward cycles that are destructive over time.<br />
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Oftentimes, as I am often prone to do, we try to overcome addiction negatively. That is, we try to cut out the things we no longer want to do because we become aware of their self-sabotaging effect. But the problem is that, once hooked, we end up wanting the very things that hurt us more than we want to end it. Therefore, attempts simply to cut out addiction simply will not work. First, the desire is too strong, and secondly we won't know how to deal with the void that is left.<br />
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The way to tackle addiction is to proactively partake in positive activities in such a way that there is no room for the addictive activities. I think one of the primary reasons why groups like AA are successful is that they replace the time the addicts would imbibe in drink with meetings that are positive and restorative. If alcoholics meeting during the time in which they're most vulnerable to drinking, they will be much less likely to relapse. Without a better way forward, one cannot escape the status quo.<br />
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Perhaps this is why the writer of Hebrews says this:<br />
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If the community of Christ, the church, ceases to make time and space for each other to stir one another up in love and good works, there can only creep up voids in which addictions that stir the opposite of love.<br />
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For those who are in Christ, we are saved people. We have been delivered out of darkness into his glorious light. Let us live in the light, in fellowship with God and with one another. Where there is light, darkness cannot abide. Let us replace addiction with what is better - the love of God in Jesus Christ, manifested in the community of the church. There, we will find healing and freedom. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-48637341447047234322016-06-03T10:51:00.000-04:002016-06-03T10:51:12.084-04:00Relationship Is the GoalIn our brokenness, we often get it wrong. We set our objectives on tasks and accomplishments because these are necessary for life. We need to have our needs met, to make a living, and to experience success. But is the goal of our lives to get stuff done or is there something greater for which we do these things?<br />
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I think even for the secular individual, it's not hard to grasp the concept of putting food on the table. I don't mean this strictly in the sense of attaining financial security but in the regard that work for most people is about providing for another. We live not just for ourselves but for our loved ones. While this sense of other is nominally at the root of our lives, it doesn't necessary get nurtured in the way it should.<br />
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We live in an individualistic, materialistic time. The messages we see and hear are often about how to make our lives more interesting, comfortable, and convenient via consumption. But is this how God created the world? For people to find fulfillment in things?<br />
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Jesus lived without any possessions, yet we must see him as the complete person. His attention and fulfillment never came from things. Jesus prized most of all communion with his Father and his people. Indeed, Jesus left heaven and all of its benefits in order to become poor and to die the sinner's death. Why?<br />
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In Hebrews 12:2, it says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. In his heart and mind the goal that drove him through infinite suffering was the prospect of an eternal relationship of his people to himself.<br />
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If we are to follow Jesus and take after him as our teacher, we must also see to it that our hearts reflect this. The problem is that our hearts don't know what a relationship with God could be. A lie has been told to us that God is not good, he is not true, he is not enjoyable.<br />
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The only way to overcome the lie is by the truth. Jesus, who claimed to be the truth, invites us to know him for who he really is. When we approach the living God with such a seeking and openness, we will taste and see that he indeed is good and our hearts will be reoriented to seek and treasure eternal relationships with God and his people rather than fleeting, earthly goals.<br />
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I need this more than any other, but it all starts with worship and a seeking after him. Let us pursue the living God in Jesus Christ who made a way for us. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-47457819280529033652016-05-23T13:55:00.001-04:002016-05-23T13:58:18.564-04:00Who Controls the Storm? In Mark 4, the disciples find themselves in the midst of a severe storm that threaten to sink them. In great fear and urgency they plead with Jesus, who is sleeping in back of the boat, saying "don't you care about us?"<br />
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What happens? Jesus wakes up, yells at the winds and the waves and peace ensues. The disciples are saved and they go on their way. But Jesus points out to the disciples an important lesson of having faith in him.<br />
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The passage concludes with the disciples asking one another, "Who then is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" They marvel at the power of Jesus to control a sudden, life threatening storm that no man could overcome.<br />
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I wonder if the disciples thought a little further and thought about who brought the storm in the first place. If Jesus could subside the storm because he is God, could he not have prevented the storm from happening in the first place? Why put his disciples in a dire circumstance? For play and fun?<br />
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The storm came because of Jesus's love for his disciples. Jesus wanted them to see who he is. Without experiencing the storm and seeing the power of God over it, the disciples could only have a theoretical understanding of the nature of Jesus. But when the storm comes, theory becomes a visceral reality. Jesus's divine nature goes from an abstraction to immediate reality. As a result, the disciples gain a kind of peace and hope that they did not have before. The Lord of creation is with them and is for them. Is there a greater security than that?<br />
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For those who follow Jesus, there will inevitably come dire storms. We should know that the presence of such threat is not mutually exclusive with a loving God. We can learn from this passage four important things:<br />
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1. Jesus is God who controls all things.<br />
2. Even the storms in our lives are sent out of God's love for us.<br />
3. If we know that God is with us, we need not fear even the direst circumstances.<br />
4. Our relationship with God is more valuable than our physical security.<br />
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Let us have faith in Jesus who will never leave nor forsake us.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:37-39</span><br />
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-49669275032140385702016-05-06T22:40:00.000-04:002016-05-06T22:40:13.748-04:00TrustTrust requires an uncertain situation. If you have already received what you sought, what need is there to trust?<br />
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Trust is for times of uncertainty. When you fall into such times, I hope you know one who is trustworthy.<br />
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I wonder if God tests us in this way. He wants to us to learn what it means to trust him, and so he takes away everything we have learned to lean on. How do we trust God when we find ourselves to be in free fall? I don't know. You just have to do it and hope.<br />
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The one who endures to the end will be saved.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-14212817552992408252016-04-22T23:22:00.001-04:002016-04-22T23:22:01.995-04:00To Become a New PersonI'm seeing more and more that behavior is more a function of who I am as a person as opposed to incentives and restrictions. Oftentimes I try to alter our habits and patterns by way of rewards and punishments, but they never seem to work. If I don't desire something from my heart, I usually don't end up doing it.<br />
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I realize that what I want is often messed up. I mean, I want a lot of things, things that are often conflicting. The intellect helps figure out what's objectively good, but the heart decides what gets done regardless.<br />
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The struggle then isn't merely about controlling the environment. It's about becoming a new person, one who desires different things. I suppose that this is what it means to be born again.<br />
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The Bible talks about putting on the new self. It's a confusing and arduous process to know what this means. Though it seems simple in principle, it feels incredibly difficult because there are deep layers of complexity in my heart that are yet unseen. Ultimately, what I need isn't just instruction but power. Power that doesn't come from the will of man but from God himself. The hope is that God gives us promises in his word that the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in those who believe. And as I believe in Jesus, I hope in his power at work in me to do what he promised. Such a hope is what will move me forward. So may I set my eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of my faith and wait for he who fights for me.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-64461004824099563972016-04-14T15:26:00.000-04:002016-04-14T15:26:06.379-04:00LostA heart lacking compassion for the lost is itself lost.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-78938507959492298682016-04-01T23:46:00.001-04:002016-04-01T23:46:46.845-04:00Provide a Way OutWhen giving criticism, we must make the pill as easy as possible for the other person to swallow. It'll never be easy, as none of us like to hear our own faults and flaws, but the pain can be alleviated somewhat. How do we do this?<br />
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We must provide for the hearer a way out. Mere criticism without a solution gives way only to guilt and condemnation. Without a practical solution or an assurance of mercy, the hearer of criticism will only be torn down.<br />
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Our call is to build up in love, not condemn. Therefore, a criticism without encouragement will always be incomplete and detrimental. We may not always have the solution, but we always have in Jesus Christ mercy and hope. Therefore, let us build one another up by speaking the truth, even tough truth, in love.<br />
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-18709352563225340782016-03-30T15:22:00.001-04:002016-03-30T15:22:04.121-04:00TransformationThe love of Jesus begets the love for Jesus which in turns begets a love for the world. It is how we go from totally depraved sinners into sacrificially loving followers of Christ.<br />
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If we want to see change in ourselves, we must first go to the source: Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God.<br />
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The good news? He never turns away those who come to him (John 6:37).<br />
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Let us go to him and receive his love. We will forever be changed.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-14307693835602647042016-03-28T13:07:00.003-04:002016-03-28T13:07:54.760-04:00How to Help the PoorOnce we understand the definition of true riches, we will see that helping the poor really is about eternal relief rather than merely temporal. Yes, justice and mercy must be sought today, and we must work for relief and freedom of those who are destitute and oppressed. Yet, how do we go about this?<br />
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If we glean from the way Jesus helped the poor, we can understand God's model of helping the poor.<br />
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Because true riches exist in heaven where God lives, we must demonstrate this to the poor by the what we prize and how.<br />
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Jesus was, is, and always will be God. He had the power to rain down gold and money from heaven. He had the power to miraculous robe people with fine clothing and build luxurious houses for the poor. Yet, did Jesus do these things? How did he bring relief to the poor?<br />
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Jesus became poor himself. He lost not only heaven but all earthly possessions. He left home and family and a career. He wandered about relying on the generosity of others even when he could make a few loaves of bread into thousands. Why did he do this?<br />
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Jesus proves to us by his life and what he gave up that there are treasures in heaven and by it we become rich. It's not what earth provides that makes us rich, but God himself. To have God is everything, and so Jesus shows us that a rich life is possible without all the things that the world values.<br />
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For us to show true riches to the poor in a way they can believe that it is true, we must be willing to shed all of our worldly riches and become the poor. Not that God necessarily requires us to become financially poor, but that we would be willing in our hearts to follow him. If God became poor so that we would become rich, it should follow that as his followers and worshippers, we too would embrace his likeness.<br />
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But where do our treasures lay?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-81484735689790830662016-03-26T12:13:00.002-04:002016-03-26T12:17:05.304-04:00Rich PovertyThere are two kinds of poverty. The poor poverty is caused by folly and yields futility. It's the kind of poverty we're all familiar with. But, there is another poverty that is rich and is caused by wisdom. It's the poverty yields an abundant harvest that endures through eternity.<br />
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Jesus said blessed are the poor. I don't think he meant to say that to be poor in itself is a blessing. What he meant was that being poor is a means to a kind of blessing that cannot be bought with riches. He was talking about a rich poverty.<br />
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In finance, the concept of investing portrays this rich poverty. A portion of wealth is given away so that it can yield a return at a future point in time. A temporary loss is voluntarily incurred for a yield that is many times greater.<br />
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As sons and daughters of the kingdom of God, we must see the potential returns that are to come in the return of Christ. If we deem it to be sure, then we can boldly invest in ways that make us presently poor. Christian poverty must be well calculated through faith, and those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God who is to return will do well to become poor for his sake. Therefore, Jesus indeed is proven correct in saying blessed are the poor.<br />
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Let us become poor not through folly but through sound investment in the kingdom of God. In so doing, we will invest in treasures in heaven that will never be taken away from us. Treasures that will last for eternity.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-8306993579306053222016-03-22T22:55:00.003-04:002016-03-22T22:55:45.197-04:00Desert TestingGod has the ability to, at the flick of his finger, make everything amazing in our lives. Our plans can unfold like rainbows, our days be filled with happiness and peace, and success define our every moment.<br />
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But, we all know this doesn't happen. Most often in life, our times are filled with frustration, futility, and strife.<br />
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I wonder why this happens. If God loves us and has given his Son for us, why won't he give us that which makes our lives amazing?<br />
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I think the reason for his plan to put us through the desert is to test our hearts. It's to show us the wickedness of sin that is in our own hearts so that we can see the insurmountable grace that he shows us in Jesus Christ.<br />
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When we struggle with our own frailty, what God wants us to do is to rest in his grace and salvation. He knows that we are weak. When we find ourselves humbled before him, we can know that he will give us more grace.<br />
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In our times of frustration, maybe we be quiet and know that he is God, and therefore, find our rest in him.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-14226999034409854502016-03-22T16:40:00.003-04:002016-03-22T16:40:25.240-04:00The One QuestionThere really is only one question that all human beings need to ask and get answered.<br />
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The span of life is meaningless without knowing this. As much as we as a people and society try to hide it under the rug and perform mental gymnastics to get around it, we can't be satisfied until we confront and deal with it.<br />
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What is the question?<br />
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Is there a God who has made all things and has revealed himself to mankind? If so, can I know him/her?<br />
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It's just not merely about a God existing (or not existing). An impersonal God is inconsequential for life. We must be specific about the kind of God that would exist AND matter to us. Could this God exist? If so, has he made himself known?<br />
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As for me, in asking this question, I've come to find that Jesus Christ is this God. I believe it to be true, and in an objective sense. This is why I must tell of him.<br />
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Are you asking this question? If so, let me show you the answer. The God who made the world, who is personal, and has come to reveal himself is Jesus Christ.<br />
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I know, I know. You don't buy it. You think my claim is not based on reason or logic.<br />
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Have you examined him? Have you considered his words? His life? Have you tried to reach out to him to see if he will answer? Have you approached him as King and God of the universe?<br />
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I tell you, come and see that he is God. If you would come him with an unbiased, yet critical mindset, you will see that it must be true that Jesus is the Son of God. And the single most important answer of your existence will ben answered.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-43210624499569969332016-03-20T21:17:00.003-04:002016-03-20T21:20:27.944-04:00The Vicious Cycle and the Road to VictorySatan has one objective in mind: to get all peoples to worship anything but the living God.<br />
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He uses one very effective strategy to knock us off the pattern of faithfulness to Christ.<br />
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#1: Begin by tempting the believer with a very small compromise.<br />
#2: Make the compromise a habit<br />
#3: As the habit of small compromise becomes more regular, convince the believer that because God is disappointed he will not bless or welcome him<br />
#4: As the believer stays longer and longer away from his source of life, he becomes weaker and more vulnerable to bigger compromises. Use this to cause him to seek life in futility in bigger and more sinister ways.<br />
#5: Now that the believer is far enough away from his source of life, it's much easier to distort his view of God. The believer is miserable and empty, but last on his list of solutions is the true answer that resides in the Son of God.<br />
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In short, the cycle works like this:<br />
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Temptation -> Sin -> Condemnation -> Sin -> Doubt -> Death<br />
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What's the way to get out of this vicious cycle?<br />
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Meditation of Truth -> Recognition of Grace -> Repentance -> Restoration - > Growth<br />
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At every stage of sin's vicious cycle, deception acts as fuel. It's untrue that sin will satisfy. It's untrue that God won't forgive. It's untrue that we're unredeemable. It's untrue that any solution apart from Christ is viable. The way to break out of this deceptive hold is by believing in the truth.<br />
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What does the truth tell us? Jesus said that he is the truth. Huh? What can this mean?<br />
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Jesus shows us the truth of God by his life, sacrifice, and resurrection. Jesus showed us that God is compassionate, merciful, and gracious, and has provided us a way back. He is eager to save and welcome sinners. The truth tells us of the assurance of mercy and forgiveness when we turn to him. The truth tells of grace that is readily available to us at every moment.<br />
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When we know that grace awaits us on the other side of repentance, it becomes a whole lot easier to turn back to God. The lie says that God, on the other side of repentance, awaits with wrath, but this is not so. On the other side of repentance lives a gracious, loving Father who has been waiting for us to return to him. In fact, he is ready to gird his loins and sprint out the door in order to greet us with his affections. When we see this grace, we can repent without fear.<br />
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As I deal with the cycles of my sin, I'm inclined to believe that the thing I need to do most is to make time ASAP to meditate on God's word. It will lead me up the road to victory in Christ.<br />
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Therefore, one of the greatest weapons that the enemy has on us is to distract us, so as to prevent us from making time for meditation. Knowing this, may I meditate on God's word readily and often in order to stay on the path, not looking to the left or to the right. May I soar onward and upward on the wings of Christ. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-24711913637960462502016-03-15T07:35:00.004-04:002016-03-15T07:36:35.191-04:00No Strength Apart From AdversityWhat it means to be strong cannot be understood without understanding adversity.<br />
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When facing opposition and discouragement, do we press on? We can know that we have been strengthened when we do so.<br />
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Let us pray to God who is our strength that he would provide us richly with the power and willingness to endure. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-46836732991418083312016-03-09T15:12:00.002-05:002016-03-09T19:41:15.330-05:00The Value of ObedienceImagine you're a blind person. As you can't see a thing, you're a danger to yourself. You grope about in darkness to try to find your way, but it's so difficult. How great would it be to get some help?<br />
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A very kind person decides to volunteer herself to help you. From that moment on, this person acts as your guide. She tells you what's before you, keeps you safe, gives you directions. Your life is now tremendously better off because of her, but only if you choose to listen and obey.<br />
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For those of us in Christ, we must see obedience in this way. God comes alongside us who are spiritually blind and becomes our guide. If we will live with eyes that see, we must listen to him and obey. Following his instructions will keep us safe, make us effective, and lead us to live our lives to the full.<br />
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One day, our eyes will be fully opened and we shall see him face to face. Let us walk in obedience until that day to our good and to the praise of his glory. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-14980928516785248242016-03-04T14:13:00.000-05:002016-03-04T14:13:40.330-05:00The Problem With Self DeceptionSelf deception by definition cannot be rooted out without the help of outside parties. The problem with this is that, because of our shame, letting our vulnerabilities out to others is oftentimes too scary.<br />
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The self deception perpetuates itself to the destruction and affliction of many. Our sins don't just affect ourselves, but they also create tons of conflict for everything and everyone around us.<br />
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The solution to this problem is mercy. Mercy that is comprehensive and healing. Mercy that is sure. When we are assured of mercy forgiving us and healing us, we can come forward and bask in the light of redemption.<br />
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Look upon the cross and the mercy that was shed through the death of Jesus Christ the son of God. He took our shame so that we can be free to find healing through mercy. Come and be free in him. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-81107541367138546212016-03-03T10:09:00.002-05:002016-03-03T10:09:23.185-05:00Detect the LiesWe must be trained in the method of parsing out deception from our hearts. Thousands of voices speak to our soul, both internally and externally. Who can we believe?<br />
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If God's word is truth, and we believe it to be so, we must reorient our thoughts and submit them under the authority of Jesus Christ. All that Jesus came to do and is doing is written for us to know, understand, and cling to. If we put to test our thoughts against the principles of God's word, we'll know which are from falsehood and which are from his Spirit.<br />
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Therefore, it's imperative that we meditate on his word day and night. The lies never cease to pour in if we're not already full. Let us be people whose thoughts are filled with God's living word. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-2284659387903438602016-03-02T20:40:00.001-05:002016-03-02T20:41:46.246-05:00Where Assurance Comes FromIn those times when we are shaken by the tempest of uncertainty, how do we get assurance? Is peace possible in times of utter turbulence?<br />
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I wonder how Jonah felt as he sat in the belly of the great fish. In darkness and in the stomach of some fleshy animal, he must have lamented the finality of his punishment. His refusal to obey God led him to death by devouring. Oh how great must have been the terror and affliction of his soul!<br />
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Yet, we know that Jonah didn't die there. He was spat out and sent to Nineveh where God saved hundreds of thousands through Jonah's warning. How did he go from the belly of death to becoming an agent of salvation?<br />
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Jesus said to the people that no sign will be given this age except the sign of Jonah. Yet, he performed miracles in his time. What could he have meant?<br />
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I suppose that the only sign we'll need in this age is that the Son of God experienced death itself for those who believe in him. He didn't just dwell in the belly. He died there. And because he paid in full what we could not pay, we know that we have assurance of forgiveness. On the other hand, Jesus didn't just die, but as he was God and wholly righteous, he defeated death and rose from the grave. We know that this Jesus is for us and interceding for us. He will save us from our troubles by the great might with which he defeated death. Jesus is the true sign of Jonah. He is the only sign we need in order to have assurance. Amen.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8484813346867468638.post-33647115110476467862016-02-26T18:38:00.004-05:002016-02-26T18:38:45.961-05:00We Are All the Same<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Judge not, that you be not judged.</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-2.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.</span><br />
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></span>
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">I used think that this verse should be understood this way: if you judge someone, you will end up committing the same mistakes and therefore be judged in the same way. Don't judge and you will be spared of making the same kind of mistake. </span><br />
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></span>
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Now I understand it differently. If we make judgments on others, we will be judged exactly as we judged. Not because we will become worse than we were, but because we have always been just as bad as everyone else. As we are no different than those we judge, we will face the same judgment in the end. We are all the same. </span><br />
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><br /></span>
<span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">The only difference between those who judge and those who refrain is that the latter allows the true judge to do his job. When we refrain from judging and let Jesus do his thing, we become partners in his work of showing mercy. As those who show mercy, we'll be shown mercy by the true and ultimate judge. </span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205338065268099816noreply@blogger.com0