When The Door Slams
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.
Proverbs 32:1
When we refuse to forgive ourselves for past sins or mistakes, are playing God-and God does want or need us to do so. We are God's children if we have trusted Christ, and we have no right to punish ourselves for our sins. Doing so leaves us chronically tired, depressed, and useless for God's service.
Thank about this: Christ paid for all our past, present and future sins.
When we reject His forgiveness, we reject what He did for us on the cross. He may need to discipline us in love to prevent the same sin in the future, and there may be natural consequences to our disobedience, but God dose not vindictively punish His children.
You know the story: When David "kept silent" and stuffed his guilt feelings, he "groaned all day long" with clinical depression until he finally accepted God's forgiveness and forgave himself. Then and only then he could write our passage for today:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven."
Blessed is the person whose sin is covered by the blood of the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, allowing the righteous Heavenly Father to "impute" our iniquity to Christ rather than hold it against us. The Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, better than I deserve.
Forgive me, Lord, for my unwillingness to forgive myself. I know the price you paid for my sin, and that I am precious and clean in Your eyes. Thank you Lord God for forgiving me.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Lawlessness,No Peace
When The Door Slams
The man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus
will kill him with the breath of his mouth and
destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Undoubtedly, The Most powerful human who will ever set foot on earth (apart from my Lord Jesus) will be this one: the man of lawlessness. Theologians identify him as the Antichrist, the one who will appear in the last days of the world. What will he be like, according to this passage?
Think about this: He will be lawless. When the door slams. That doesn't necessarily mean he will be a lawbreaker. Rather, he will be a law unto himself. Whatever he says to the world will be law, no matter how nasty, cruel, or crazy it might be. His wish will be the world's command.
Its people will bow in submission to his every demand an will be mesmerized by his power. From other Scripture passages we know that this person will possess supernatural ability to do miracles, show signs in the heavens, and demonstrate all kinds of amazing power. Most of the people alive at this time will worship him as God.
Nonetheless, he is simply an importer. And he will be destroyed with hardly a fight when Jesus returns. You can trust too, if you're around at that time, that Jesus our Lord will rescue you from this importer's deception and entrapment. Look to the Lord, and you will find him faithful and true.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus
will kill him with the breath of his mouth and
destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Undoubtedly, The Most powerful human who will ever set foot on earth (apart from my Lord Jesus) will be this one: the man of lawlessness. Theologians identify him as the Antichrist, the one who will appear in the last days of the world. What will he be like, according to this passage?
Think about this: He will be lawless. When the door slams. That doesn't necessarily mean he will be a lawbreaker. Rather, he will be a law unto himself. Whatever he says to the world will be law, no matter how nasty, cruel, or crazy it might be. His wish will be the world's command.
Its people will bow in submission to his every demand an will be mesmerized by his power. From other Scripture passages we know that this person will possess supernatural ability to do miracles, show signs in the heavens, and demonstrate all kinds of amazing power. Most of the people alive at this time will worship him as God.
Nonetheless, he is simply an importer. And he will be destroyed with hardly a fight when Jesus returns. You can trust too, if you're around at that time, that Jesus our Lord will rescue you from this importer's deception and entrapment. Look to the Lord, and you will find him faithful and true.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Serenity
When The Door Slams
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the habitation of the just.
Proverbs 3:33
Each time something replaces the love for Christ within us, inner conflict is the result. We can't have habitual, willful sin and also experience serenity.
Think about this: Sin is much like a splinter in our unconscious mind. Unless sin is removed through confession and repentance, it will fester just as a splinter festers. it will lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It's not as easy to stand tall and tell ourselves we're okay when we know we have violated God's standard.
Inner conflict rages. Still, we ignore it and sin continues to fester. There is a loss of creativity and perhaps even lowered efficiency. If we continue to ignore sin, we will experience a sense of failure. After all, we have been unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Even ill health can be a result we refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in our lives.
The fourth step of the Twelve Step program is to make a search and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Have you done that? Becoming a Christian ins't fire insurance. it's a relationship with a loving God that affects every area of our lives. It transforms our values, our lifestyles, our will, and even our sexuality. It involves obedience; unconditional love compels us to obey. Wholeness, serenity, and health are the result.
Think about this: Habitual, willful sin enslave me; obedience and confession set me free.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the habitation of the just.
Proverbs 3:33
Each time something replaces the love for Christ within us, inner conflict is the result. We can't have habitual, willful sin and also experience serenity.
Think about this: Sin is much like a splinter in our unconscious mind. Unless sin is removed through confession and repentance, it will fester just as a splinter festers. it will lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It's not as easy to stand tall and tell ourselves we're okay when we know we have violated God's standard.
Inner conflict rages. Still, we ignore it and sin continues to fester. There is a loss of creativity and perhaps even lowered efficiency. If we continue to ignore sin, we will experience a sense of failure. After all, we have been unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Even ill health can be a result we refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in our lives.
The fourth step of the Twelve Step program is to make a search and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Have you done that? Becoming a Christian ins't fire insurance. it's a relationship with a loving God that affects every area of our lives. It transforms our values, our lifestyles, our will, and even our sexuality. It involves obedience; unconditional love compels us to obey. Wholeness, serenity, and health are the result.
Think about this: Habitual, willful sin enslave me; obedience and confession set me free.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
True Wisdom
When The Door Slams
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
True wisdom is found in establishing a balance in teamwork with God. it seems so often there is a tendency to go to one extreme or the other.
We can adopt the philosophy of "Let go and let God" and sit back and expect God to do everything. However, I have found that if I'm lazy, God won't do it for me. On the other hand, there have been times when I have gone to the other extreme of trying to do it all on my own and proceeding almost as if God was not around. That too, has usually ended in failure.
Think about this:
Philippians 4:13 brings these two contrasting extremes into balance: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is not saying I can do it all, period. Nor is it saying Christ does it all. it is a joint project, a teamwork relationship, a partnership, with the Holy Spirit.
Today's passage uses an example from nature to illustrate the same point. the branch without the vine or trunk soon withers and dies and produces no fruit. Teamwork is a relationship, the mode of God's operation. Be wise and team up with God. Watch excitedly for the results of your partnership in your daily accomplishments.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, My soul silently waits for God alone; My salvation comes form Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Praise the Lord everybody.
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
True wisdom is found in establishing a balance in teamwork with God. it seems so often there is a tendency to go to one extreme or the other.
We can adopt the philosophy of "Let go and let God" and sit back and expect God to do everything. However, I have found that if I'm lazy, God won't do it for me. On the other hand, there have been times when I have gone to the other extreme of trying to do it all on my own and proceeding almost as if God was not around. That too, has usually ended in failure.
Think about this:
Philippians 4:13 brings these two contrasting extremes into balance: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is not saying I can do it all, period. Nor is it saying Christ does it all. it is a joint project, a teamwork relationship, a partnership, with the Holy Spirit.
Today's passage uses an example from nature to illustrate the same point. the branch without the vine or trunk soon withers and dies and produces no fruit. Teamwork is a relationship, the mode of God's operation. Be wise and team up with God. Watch excitedly for the results of your partnership in your daily accomplishments.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, My soul silently waits for God alone; My salvation comes form Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Praise the Lord everybody.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Trust and Obey
When The Door Slams
Trust in the Lost with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5-6 became my spiritual compass. Whenever I faced a difficult decision, I always turned to it for assurance. God etched its simple but profound truth in my mind and heart. it continues to be a signpost along life's road, ever pointing me to the bottom line for all decisions: trust and obey God. It is an eternal combination that always makes one a winner.
Thank about this: Because God is trustworthy. He is dependable. He is sovereignly working everything together for his glory and our good.
His wisdom is given to those who look to him, lean on him, rely on him. The more we depend on our Father for instruction, strength, hope, and guidance, the more abundantly he confers on us his divine wisdom.
We cannot receive wisdom from God apart from a relationship with him. God is not interested in teaching his ways to those who have no desire to please him or follow him. He express compassion, however, to teach men and woman who are bold enough to believe his promises and carry out his commands.
Trusting in the Lord means that we place our present and future circumstances in his hands, confident in his ability to orchestrate people and events to achieve his will. This wholehearted trust brings a secure peace of mind and contentment. Putting our full emotional and volitional weight on faithfulness of God activates his promises.
Listen to this: There is one catch, however. We must first admit our inadequacy: "Lean not on your own understanding." This is where many Christians falter. God has given us talents and skills. However, they are maximized for eternity when you trust him to direct and use them for his plans. Then the question is, When the door slams, Will you lean on your own understanding or depend on God?
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, keep me ever so mindful of my inadequacy, my-short-comings and your sufficiency. Continue to assure me that to lean on you is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. I want to always to remember the wise choice-the decision that never fails to bring the richest rewards, through the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.
Trust in the Lost with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5-6 became my spiritual compass. Whenever I faced a difficult decision, I always turned to it for assurance. God etched its simple but profound truth in my mind and heart. it continues to be a signpost along life's road, ever pointing me to the bottom line for all decisions: trust and obey God. It is an eternal combination that always makes one a winner.
Thank about this: Because God is trustworthy. He is dependable. He is sovereignly working everything together for his glory and our good.
His wisdom is given to those who look to him, lean on him, rely on him. The more we depend on our Father for instruction, strength, hope, and guidance, the more abundantly he confers on us his divine wisdom.
We cannot receive wisdom from God apart from a relationship with him. God is not interested in teaching his ways to those who have no desire to please him or follow him. He express compassion, however, to teach men and woman who are bold enough to believe his promises and carry out his commands.
Trusting in the Lord means that we place our present and future circumstances in his hands, confident in his ability to orchestrate people and events to achieve his will. This wholehearted trust brings a secure peace of mind and contentment. Putting our full emotional and volitional weight on faithfulness of God activates his promises.
Listen to this: There is one catch, however. We must first admit our inadequacy: "Lean not on your own understanding." This is where many Christians falter. God has given us talents and skills. However, they are maximized for eternity when you trust him to direct and use them for his plans. Then the question is, When the door slams, Will you lean on your own understanding or depend on God?
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, keep me ever so mindful of my inadequacy, my-short-comings and your sufficiency. Continue to assure me that to lean on you is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. I want to always to remember the wise choice-the decision that never fails to bring the richest rewards, through the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.
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