JUST A BLOG

Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.

My Photo
Name:
Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Friday, June 24, 2005

Our Attraction to Self Righteousness!

The clearest indication of the fall of Adam and therefore the greatest danger to Christians, I believe is found primarily in our attraction to self-righteousness. It is not the lack of obedience or commitment; it is not bad theology or the violation of the commands of God. No, it is our need to be right; to appear to be good and to correct the sin of the world. That child of God is the clearest sign of our sin nature. May I say it was not the prostitutes or the winos that received Jesus’ harsh words. It was the religious people of that day whose purpose was to be good and to be perceived as good.
Jesus said to them in Matthew 23; “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (verses 27-28).
It is so easy to forget where He found us. It is also easy to forget how He loves us. Peter wrote, “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10). In other words, child of God don’t forget, where He found you, and don’t forget that He loves you. You think about that.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Take It Off

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen. Revelation 1:6

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 1:9

The High Priest of Israel wore holy garments of blue and white, a breast plate of twelve precious gems, and a white turban framed by a golden crown with a golden plate on the front which read, "Holy to the Lord." On the one day of the year that the High Priest was permitted to enter the holy of holies, he had to strip himself of all his garments, and wear instead a simple covering of white linen.
May I say, there is a lesson here for us, as we follow our calling.

Note! The quoted Scripture above, teaches that all believers, are a royal priesthood. As called out priest, we need to strip ourselves of all ego and pride. If you really want to enter God's presence and find freedom, joy and peace, then take off status, achievements, pretenses, defenses, ect. and come just as you are, just you, as His child. Be real to God and you will find God as He is, for real. You think about that.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

The Never-Ending Banquet

In Proverbs 15:15 it says: "All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast." The Hebrew word translated afflicted can also be translated downcast, and refers to people who look down. You could paraphrase Proverbs 15:15 to read; (All the days of those who look down are bad, but for the happy heart, life is a never-ending banquet). May I say, we tend to put greater focus on the quality of the days, the circumstances if you will, rather than on the quality of the heart.

We seek good days, we want good things to happen in our lives. We believe if good things happen, our lives will be full of joy and peace. This is not true. Child of God, the truth is in the proverb, your life is not in the hands of your days or circumstances. Your life is in the hands of a loving Father who is Sovereign over His creation....a heart committed to Jesus, filled with the love of God will make your days a never-ending banquet. If you look down all the time, your days will be evil, but if you look up, in faith, hope, love and worship, your days will be full of freedom, joy and faithfulness to Christ. You think about that.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Serving False Gods

There were many pagan altars in the ancient world, and the worship of false gods, was common. Even in Israel there were pagan altars, located on mountain tops, on hill tops, by trees, and in sacred groves. Those Israelites who turned away from the living and true God, to worship these pagan idols, offered up sacrifices, to include even their own children.

May I say; There is a cost to not following the true God. Indeed the god of money, the god of lust and sexual immorality, the gods of alcohol, drugs, ambition, success, status, popularity, materialism, self-centeredness, self-pity, spite, and fear all have their altars, and they all exact heavy prices. They will demand that you sacrifice your peace, your joy, your marriage, your family, your health, your dignity, your reputation, even your life.

Dear friend, turn to the altar of the living God, on Calvary, where the true God, in love, offered up His life for you. Give your life to the God who gave His life for you. All the other gods are not worth it. You think about that.

THE BEREAN NOTEPAD
Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.