Grace Is Shown

...When your judgments come upon the earth,

the people of the world learn righteousness.
But when grace is shown to the wicked,
they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil
and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.
Lord, your hand is lifted high,
but they do not see it.
Isaiah 26:9b-11a NIV

In a prior chapter, Isaiah 24, the earth is destroyed, though not completely. This is still in our future and it's pictured in the book of Revelation. As humanities cup of sin fills to the brim, the wrath of God overflows. In the coming chapters it sound's like it's a divine spanking with eternal consequences. Yet the verse above is part of a song of triumph. This is because it is Jesus' victory of the enemies over the enemies of God. These enemies are both internally and externally. The enemies of God are not just hostile nations and people that reject God. There are also more subtle enemies. Some of these are due to the fact that not all of Abraham seed became his children (of faith). Other enemies hide in the midst of the faithful, for not all of Israel held to the faith, and the church fared no better with tares resembling the faithful (Romans 11, John 15, Matthew 13). We serve a God of love, but we that read God’s word know that the world faces judgment. And, judgment comes because of the rejection of God’s Son, Jesus.

Now, it's easy to forget that we live in an age once shrouded in mystery. The church throughout the Old Testament remained hidden. This mystery is the church. The church  is in age is an age of grace (though God has always shown grace).  But, Isaiah predicted even God's grace would be trampled on.

Verse 10 says it all,

“But when grace is shown to the wicked,
they do not learn righteousness;
even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil
and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.”

Though many witnesses go out into the field of the Lord and the harvest is great, most miss God's grace. Though God's workers go into the highways and byways, the world goes on doing evil. Why? They do not regard the LORD.

Jesus said it this way in John chapter 3.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

John 3:16-20 NIV

Even though the Father gave His best, Jesus is rejected, because their deeds are evil. Fear of exposure and fear of repentance (change) drives people away from Jesus. But, if we are people that reflect Jesus' love through being gracious and forgiving, we lift Jesus up and draw others near. Be someone who brings people closer to Jesus.

The New Room

After fifteen year living in our old fixer-upper our room is almost ready. Yeah, we’ve lived in it the whole time, and I’ve seen worse, but it was bad. The carpet layer finished the other day and we were just anxious to move in. Why? Our bed and all of the other stuff filled our living room to overflow. So yes! Thank God we have a new room!

My wife the other day went to a woman’s conference and one of the speakers taught on the ancient courtship rituals of Jesus’ day. A betrothed couple, in this period, didn’t just plan a wedding date and move forward. The groom built a room on his father’s house. There he would build and prepare a room making it just right. Like any couple, I’m sure, the groom would have settled for four walls and roof and let’s move on with it. But the groom didn’t get to say when it was done, the father did.

This is why Jesus as He told the parable of the virgins said they needed to be ready. Morning, noon, or night when the room was done, it was time. For as soon as the father said the room was done, the groom would come for his bride. Jesus has been gone awhile now, over 2000 years. Though He lives outside of time—it’s still taking a while. He’s now preparing a room for us, a place for us. We the bride of Christ await His return. How glorious that place must be, but most of all Jesus will be there too!

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust in me also.

“There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am.

 “You know the way to the place where I am going.”   (?)

John 14:1-4 NIRV

The Social Neanderthal

Being a social Neanderthal I often flub the simplest of conversations. Even so through the grace of God and even the power of the Holy Spirit I meet and greet a lot of new people. ( I say the power of the Holy Spirit because you wouldn't believe how shy I was until the Holy Spirit cracked my shell.) Many of the people I meet are just visitors at church. I shouldn’t say “just” because sometime they are people that are in need of ministry. In fact perhaps the best place to witness is at church. For instance, if you were a fisherman, you would want to go where the fish are interested in what you are offering. At church, new comers are usually interested and some are not believers yet. Others may just need the love of Christ that you can offer at just the right time.

I guess God working in and through us is more important that fixing all of our social graces. But, I wish I was better at small talk, if for no other reason than moving it toward deeper thing of eternal value. Anyway we work it we know God is right there all along working it toward His end.

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Weighed Down?

It’s easy to let the cares of this life weigh us down. One moment all can be going well, or at least seem to be, and then an argument can come in like a hurricane. Yes, we bunker down and go through it and survive. But, kinder words should have and could have been used. We say the sorry word and move on. But, is that really forgiveness?

The Lords Prayer reminds us that we have a need to have forgiveness and to be forgiving. Why do we need forgiveness? It is our trespasses, the willful sin. We trespass when we cross on to or into another’s property. In this case it’s against God’s law and we offend both Him and another party. Here it was my family, I need there forgiveness. Graciously, they give it, though they stew first sometimes.

I know that it would be better to never offend. But, I do. I also remember Jesus words then to, “offences must come, but whoa to one who brings them” (paraphrase). That is why we need our Fathers forgiveness too.

Dying Daily

Are our ears actively dulled?

Do conditional queues quicken or quell?

Or do they bring with it questionable fears or tears?

Is it a fathom pho pas or manic messiness?

No, merciless meandering are measuring me.

If our standard measures ourselves, we fall and fail, or fake it.

If our standard is that of God’s perfection, we fail all the more.

I looked into a dulled mirror only to see imperfection laid deep within. Though I look intently into the perfect law of liberty, my mind refuses to give in, it fights submission. Through a war hard fought or hardly fought, facts fizzle and fears fade. I would that I would really fear the Holy One. For there find I hope.

Through a Father’s love, the fog on the mirror clears and reappears. Written in the haze these words appear, “For God so loved the world….”

In a hard fought war, death brought certain victory.

Victorious, the Son, raised in newness of life takes up my war and defeats my enemy.

Though self fights hard he will one day yield. And if I kill him today, again he’s there tomorrow.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Cor 15:50 NKJV

Resplendent Thoughts

Resplendent thoughts rush through my soul

I think ahead to a day with no pain

I think past any present misery.

I think through ruffled feathers, blinded sight, and hidden mysteries

Will future thoughts become today's dream?

Only in heaven, only in heaven will Loves’ sweet will be revealed.

Today we read the words and try to make sense.

Today is cast in shadows and dirty mirrors reflect Loves light

Today we wonder in mystery, while we wait to cast off misery.

Resplendent thoughts rush through my soul.

Antiquated?

Is blogging a waste of time? Perhaps, but at least it exercises my mind and gives me an outlet. Maybe this is just some sort of modern (this looks like modem it is m o d e r n) journal, with a weird twist. We allow others to peak in and see what we really think about. Like anyone else, my mind wanders just about everywhere and anywhere. Yet, I do something different. I take thoughts captive and judge them by what I know is true from God’s word, the bible.

Some see the bible as some antiquated book full of fairy tales. I would respectfully disagree, for God’s word is alive and sharper than a two edged sword. What I mean is as we read the bible we are building a relationship with its author and it cuts right to the heart of issues. Though men penned the words over thousand of years,  in various places all over the Mediterranean Region, it was done by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. Through Sheppard’s, kings, princes, prophets, poets, and fishermen the Spirit of the living God complied a book telling of God’s dealings with men and how men can deal with God.

I’ve told and retold the only story I ever tell. It is a simple summation of the bible as a whole. I tell the bible's tale this way because it is easy to get lost in it, it’s huge. In short, God made the heavens and the earth, and He did it in perfection. It was good in His sight and humanity lived in harmonious bliss with God. He provided all their needs, but much more than that, He had an everyday relationship with His creation. All was well with the world.

God's garden (Eden) had only ONE rule. With only one rule, it seems like they could keep it right? Of course not! They were   like   we   are: rebellious. They took the forbidden fruit from the tree, and bliss was a thing of the past. While we could blame them, as we like to do, we would do the same. With disobedience, Adam and Eve introduced the curse of sin into the world. This sin brought death and suffering and all that we see wrong with the planet.

In other words, the perfect planet was a thing of the past. So within 3 or 4 pages of the bible, perfection is lost and the relationship with the Father was broken. This was the first messed up family. Broken ties with the one who made them--oh, what to do? What to do?

The "what to do" is where we turn from here in the bible. It is the rest of the story of the bible. God had to show humanity how to deal with sin. He did it in a temporal way through animal sacrifice system and a Levitical Priesthood. But, in a twist, God does the unexpected. He sent His only Son to deal with sin once and for all. That is why Jesus, the Christ, came: to die for sin, our sin. And by His own power, He raised Himself back to life 3 days later.

Why? He loves the world, even in a broken state. He just wants a relationship. But, a perfect God doesn't look on or condone sin. So something perfect had to intervene. So, God did. He loves the world so much He sent His Son Jesus (the perfect Lamb of God) to end the sacrificial system. He sent His perfect Son to restore the balance in creation. He sent His Son to die for humanities disobedience, for my disobedience.

I can’t understand a love like that. I can’t begin to know why God loves us so much as to send His Son to appease His anger over our wrongs, our sins. But He did and that is the bibles’ good news (Gospel). However, as a friend reminded me tonight, there is bad news in the bible too. It speaks to the fact that what if hearing all this, you still think it’s a fairy tale. Well, there is a hell just as much as there is a heaven. Remember this: Jesus spoke about hell 17 times and heaven once. Hell is designed for Satan and his rebellious host. Yet, if you refuse a relationship with the living God (Yahweh), who made everything, you can go to hell, but, it is by ones own choice.

Well there is a million details I could give, but that would take forever. I hope you know my God as I do. He is loving and merciful beyond belief. Yet, if you like, you could have His justice instead?

Why I Pray

The busy life often ends up neglecting God. It seems our spiritual life takes the blunt of our neglect. Even Jesus, who had thousands trying to hang out with Him knew the importance of just being with the Father. If you notice what Jesus did often as He came into a new town, He would look for the high or solitary place. Then He would go get alone with His Father.

Do we as modern believers think we can get away with less than Jesus?

Do we think a one or two minute prayer will suffice in our busy day?

Or, do we forget to pray and read Your word at all?

Father, convict and encourage Your people. Help us to see our need and take the time to communicate with You.  I’m guilty as all are. Continue to be our redeemer.

 After he had sent them away, he went by himself up into the hills to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone.

Matthew 14:23 NCV

 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:35 NIV

Dreamin'

On early fall night, all seems right with the world. Well at least my little world.  I’ve been busy with a concert vacation, with the kids. Mom doesn’t like them and stayed home. I love them! Four day of some of greatest Christian music in the country. I love it, but they ware me out.

Getting back home, it was a disaster. Our room is being remodeled and our bed’s in the living room. Our room’s needing paint and carpet, so all can get back to normal.

But, it’s what happened after our weekend of worship. On the night after our Wednesday worship service, I had horrifying dreams. They, I’m sure were demonic oppression. Even in a dream state I had to cry out to Jesus. Even in our sleep we are vulnerable. Well, it ended and the dreams content I will never reveal. Why disturb others?

Even in my dream this verse came to mind.

 and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV

Christ, if He is Lord over our lives, is Lord over our dreams. I pray that anything that would lift itself against our faith and knowledge of our God, we would cast down in Jesus name.

It’s rare that and experience comes along once in a blue moon. Sometimes prayers, for or against things stir up a battle. Sometimes our actions give place to the devil, and don’t think he will not take advantage over it. This last until Jesus makes him move on.

The event was scarier than any horror movie I ever watched by far (those movies themselves can give Satan a way in). I’m simply glad it is over.