Thank You Father God for...
Love, peace, joy, comfort, calmness in my soul, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, strength, energy, every breath I breathe.
Grace, mercy, patience, kindness, truth, deliverance, faith, hope and charity.
Clothes, food, house, gas, electricity, water, lights, microwave ovens, cars, TV, radio, computer, Internet, satellites, cable, shoes, socks, and art.
Clouds, rain, lightning, thunder, snow, wind, sun, moon, stars, heat, cold, birds, trees, cats, dogs, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Most of all, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ, to die on an old rugged cross, to pay the debt for my nasty, ugly sins, that I could never pay.
Some of this list may sound a little silly, but the point is, we have God to thank for EVERYTHING. We take SO MUCH for granted, that we don't appreciate what God has done for us.
God is good, all the time.
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Foolishness Of God
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
The scripture above says that a non-believer cannot understand the spiritual things of God, because they seem foolish to him. He cannot possible understand the things of God, because he does not have the Holy Spirit in him.
As a conservative Christian, my mind can't comprehend how a perverted, evil man, can look at a sweet little girl, or boy, and only see them with a deviate sense of affection. Equally, that spiritually, and mentally, disturbed man, can't understand how I can continue to follow, and believe in, a God that I can't even see. This is just one worldly example of the same scripture. When I was saved, the old natural man was put to death, and the new man was born. I no longer had the same mind I once had. I now can see and understand the things of God more clearly. I 'hear' the voice of God, and 'feel' the Spirit of God, and 'see' God in everything around me. I have tried to explain this to non-Christians, but they cannot comprehend what I am saying.
Here is another real world example of this scripture. In today's paper, a column written by Cokie and Steve Roberts, is discussing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in our military. That policy says that if you are a homosexual serving in the military, you cannot openly practice your lifestyle, or you will be discharged from service. They are saying that the policy needs to be repealed, because today, "we are a far more open and tolerant country. The House and Senate have both passed bills that would eliminate the policy, but it still faces a rocky legislative road." The problem is, "a small but vocal chorus of Christian conservatives continues to oppose any change in the current law, and they are strongly supported by some orthodox military chaplains who believe homosexuality is a sin." According to the Roberts', Christian conservatives have a right to their opinion, but they don't have a right to impose their narrow-minded view of homosexuality on the rest of the country."
The Roberts' also say that "most Americans know and like openly gay people in their schools, their workplaces, their neighborhoods, and their own families." I personally, know very few people who are tolerant of openly active homosexuals, flaunting their lifestyles in front of them.
Of course, homosexuality is just one area where believers, and non-believers disagree. When sin issues, such as homosexuality, abortion, gambling, adultery, and the like, are discussed in an open forum, the line is usually drawn right down the middle of both camps. It is all because of what God says in His word. The natural man cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit. The things of God are foolishness to the unbeliever.
The Apostle Paul says in the same chapter of 1 Corinthians, that our "faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." He also wrote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
In closing, we need to be sensitive to the concerns of non-believers, while at the same time, always trying to lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The only cure for the darkness of this world, is the Light of Christ.
The scripture above says that a non-believer cannot understand the spiritual things of God, because they seem foolish to him. He cannot possible understand the things of God, because he does not have the Holy Spirit in him.
As a conservative Christian, my mind can't comprehend how a perverted, evil man, can look at a sweet little girl, or boy, and only see them with a deviate sense of affection. Equally, that spiritually, and mentally, disturbed man, can't understand how I can continue to follow, and believe in, a God that I can't even see. This is just one worldly example of the same scripture. When I was saved, the old natural man was put to death, and the new man was born. I no longer had the same mind I once had. I now can see and understand the things of God more clearly. I 'hear' the voice of God, and 'feel' the Spirit of God, and 'see' God in everything around me. I have tried to explain this to non-Christians, but they cannot comprehend what I am saying.
Here is another real world example of this scripture. In today's paper, a column written by Cokie and Steve Roberts, is discussing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in our military. That policy says that if you are a homosexual serving in the military, you cannot openly practice your lifestyle, or you will be discharged from service. They are saying that the policy needs to be repealed, because today, "we are a far more open and tolerant country. The House and Senate have both passed bills that would eliminate the policy, but it still faces a rocky legislative road." The problem is, "a small but vocal chorus of Christian conservatives continues to oppose any change in the current law, and they are strongly supported by some orthodox military chaplains who believe homosexuality is a sin." According to the Roberts', Christian conservatives have a right to their opinion, but they don't have a right to impose their narrow-minded view of homosexuality on the rest of the country."
The Roberts' also say that "most Americans know and like openly gay people in their schools, their workplaces, their neighborhoods, and their own families." I personally, know very few people who are tolerant of openly active homosexuals, flaunting their lifestyles in front of them.
Of course, homosexuality is just one area where believers, and non-believers disagree. When sin issues, such as homosexuality, abortion, gambling, adultery, and the like, are discussed in an open forum, the line is usually drawn right down the middle of both camps. It is all because of what God says in His word. The natural man cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit. The things of God are foolishness to the unbeliever.
The Apostle Paul says in the same chapter of 1 Corinthians, that our "faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." He also wrote, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
In closing, we need to be sensitive to the concerns of non-believers, while at the same time, always trying to lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The only cure for the darkness of this world, is the Light of Christ.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wisdom (or lack of it)
I work with a guy who thinks he is right about EVERYTHING! When he starts talking, I want to just scream and run away. Either that, or politely ignore him. Aside from these two options, the only choice I have is to stand and listen, and politely scream in my mind, where he can't hear it. Also, if you have an opinion, and he disagrees, he gets really snooty. Or smart-alecky, whichever.
I know God gave us free will. He gave us the right to disagree, even, with Him. But just because we have the right, to think He is wrong, that doesn't make us right. He is ALWAYS RIGHT. All He did, was give us the right to be wrong, if we so choose. There are those that think they are ALWAYS RIGHT, no matter what the subject. They have presumed, incorrectly, that because they were smart enough to be right about a few things, then they must be right about EVERYTHING. We need to be wise enough, to realize when we are wrong.
Bill Clinton was once asked in an interview, how he could be FOR abortion, and claim to be a Southern Baptist. His answer was amazing. He asked the interviewer to show him in the Bible, where the word 'abortion' was. In his pursuit of wisdom, he showed his ignorance. The actual word 'abortion' may not be in the Bible, but 'Thou shalt not kill' is. The word 'gambling' is not in the Bible either, but the principles against it are. It's the principle, not the word, that matters. Words change, but God's truth doesn't.
Men can be smug. They can roll their eyes. They can give that pathetic, patronizing look. When you talk about God, and scripture, and Heaven and Hell, they may just ignore you and walk away. But in the end, they can't ignore God. They can't just ignore Him and walk away. He is too great a presence. He is right. All the time. Till the end of time. Judgment is coming, and earthly wisdom won't get you to Heaven. Your own righteousness won't get you there either. Asking God to forgive you of your sins, and asking Him to save you, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, is the ONLY WAY to get to Heaven. Don't be so smart that you miss out on eternity with Him.
I know God gave us free will. He gave us the right to disagree, even, with Him. But just because we have the right, to think He is wrong, that doesn't make us right. He is ALWAYS RIGHT. All He did, was give us the right to be wrong, if we so choose. There are those that think they are ALWAYS RIGHT, no matter what the subject. They have presumed, incorrectly, that because they were smart enough to be right about a few things, then they must be right about EVERYTHING. We need to be wise enough, to realize when we are wrong.
Bill Clinton was once asked in an interview, how he could be FOR abortion, and claim to be a Southern Baptist. His answer was amazing. He asked the interviewer to show him in the Bible, where the word 'abortion' was. In his pursuit of wisdom, he showed his ignorance. The actual word 'abortion' may not be in the Bible, but 'Thou shalt not kill' is. The word 'gambling' is not in the Bible either, but the principles against it are. It's the principle, not the word, that matters. Words change, but God's truth doesn't.
Men can be smug. They can roll their eyes. They can give that pathetic, patronizing look. When you talk about God, and scripture, and Heaven and Hell, they may just ignore you and walk away. But in the end, they can't ignore God. They can't just ignore Him and walk away. He is too great a presence. He is right. All the time. Till the end of time. Judgment is coming, and earthly wisdom won't get you to Heaven. Your own righteousness won't get you there either. Asking God to forgive you of your sins, and asking Him to save you, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, is the ONLY WAY to get to Heaven. Don't be so smart that you miss out on eternity with Him.
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