JESUS died for the sins of ALL people; BUT, not ALL people are "invited" to partake "IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME" at Communion. 1 Corinthians 11:28, "Let a person examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup". Does "religion" define and impose minimum standards as "WORTHINESS TESTS" for Communion? Has man established how to be "wholly HOLY" lines between "US AND THEM"? US can take Communion; but THEM are not worthy to take Communion. Does "examine himself" mean for one to understand the unselfish, atoning nature of JESUS' death for others? Ephesians 2:14, "HE HIMSELF...has broken down the wall of hostility". Should "religion" exclude people from Communion, (when the Bible says, "examine himself")? ISN'T THIS OPPOSED TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE? Luke 5:32, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance".
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Have we not achieved what "destiny" has put in our minds to achieve? Do we think that we need a rest because of the many pressures we face each day? Are we so vainly selfish that we are numb to our own arrogance? The reason we have not reached "our destined" purpose is because we have not INCLUDED GOD. We have decided, and GOD is suppose to FOLLOW ALONG AND BLESS IT. And what if there were no rest to be had? We can't sleep for fear of someone breaking into the "card board" box we live in and taking our families into slavery. No matter how hard we work and sacrifice there is just no milk or food for our children. 1 Peter 5:9, "...remain steadfast in the FAITH, knowing the afflictions of your brothers that are in the world". Are our prayers concentrated on our own "MAKE BELIEVE" Destinies and Pressures? "...The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective", James 5:16. DO WE HAVE NO FAITH OR BELIEFS, IN OUR MAKE BELIEVE WORLD?
We have all meet people who seem to "cut" through the "smoke" and get right to the "ROOT" OF THE MATTER. They do not "mince" their carefully chosen words which could compromise their meaning. Their seemingly "radical" vision reduces everything to its "simplest", "undistorted" TRUTH. Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, all your Soul and all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself". Could it be that by keeping these two commandments to their fullest, that we would keep all the other commandments and Scriptural instruction of the Bible? Is it possible that we have been trying to live the "letter" of the "law", while totally missing the SPIRIT? How can we Love GOD for HIS own sake, and Love others for their sake by our own strength? This kind of Love is DIVINE LOVE poured into our heart by the HOLY SPIRIT. NOW THAT'S THE ROOT OF THE MATTER.
Eric Liddle (in the movie, Chariots of Fire) once said, "When I run, I feel GOD'S pleasure". Do we "just endure" the race to get to the finish line? Do we pursue and endure life just to finish it? When in fact we really don't want to reach THE END. 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the FAITH". In what ever we do, DO WE FEEL GOD'S PLEASURE? WHAT GIVES US MORE JOY, AND WHAT GIVES US MORE PLEASURE; THE FINISH OR THE JOURNEY?
LOVE is defined as "an intense affection for another person BASED ON personal ties". LOVE continues to be defined as, "A response BASED ON feelings and emotions". The key phase here is, "BASED ON". WE LOVE ON CONDITION - "BASED ON". OUR "LOVE" IS NOT LOVE AT ALL. LOVE is not emotional where its intensity is constantly changing. A mother LOVES her children even when they are "UNLOVABLE"; LOVE doesn't stop just because we don't "FEEL" LOVE for someone. LOVE IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD; LOVE is giving. WHEN WE LOVE GOD, WE LOVE OTHERS THROUGH HIM. WHEN WE LOVE OTHERS, WE LOVE GOD THROUGH THEM. GOD doesn't love us based on feelings or emotions, because we are "sooooooo LOVABLE" OR BECAUSE we make HIM "FEEL GOOD". HE LOVES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM; "GOD IS LOVE..." (1 John 4:8).
1 Chronicles 22:19, "Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your GOD". If GOD is omnipresent, governing and sustaining all creation all of the time; why does HE become "unmanifested" and "unperceived"? Why is HIS constant trusted Presence not a constant experience with us? Is it because we become neglectful and give HIM no thought at all? In fact, do we have some thoughts and actions where we "consciously" DON'T WANT GOD? Do we suppress GOD'S Radiance behind a "curtain" of carnal desires and thoughts? Does "Seeking" GOD mean that we must consciously direct our minds and hearts, in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, THROUGH AND AROUND OBSTACLES WHERE WE HIDE OURSELVES FROM GOD? Do we really seek and want GOD with ALL OF OUR HEART AND SOUL? GOD SEARCHES OUR HEARTS AND MINDS; AND HE KNOWS.
Do we not feel, or know, the Presence of GOD all the time? Sometimes HE is so close, and sometimes it is as though HE was never here to begin with. GOD IS NOT THE ONE WHO MOVED. Do we become anxious about debt, desires and doubt? Matthew6:25, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life...which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life"? Instead of being anxious, depressed and quitting; why not see what Our Awesome GOD (WHO promises to be with us always) does to deliver us? ANXIETY TURNS TO EXPECTATION! We are Faithful when we believe GOD and HIS Promises; GOD is Faithful when HE does what HE Promises.
It has been said, "Faith is the illusion of TRUTH" (Nietzsche). Therefore, FAITH must be a LEAP IN THE DARK, when "human reason" fails. Is FAITH the "last straw alternative" as we run from shattered hope and disappointment time after time? OH, HOW MUCH WE MUST INSULT GOD WITH OUR IGNORANCE. "Partial man-made truths" cannot satisfy or explain every aspect of our existence. BELIEF is not incompatible with FAITH, it is DEPENDENT upon FAITH. Luke 22:32, "I have prayed for you that your FAITH may not fail". FAITH is not TRUTH we "piece together", "partial truth" by "partial truth". IT IS NOT A FRUSTRATED LEAP INTO ETERNAL DARKNESS. FAITH is born of an ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD, WHO REVEALS HIS LOVE. LOVE IS LIGHT! A LIGHT THIS POWERFUL, DOES NOT COME FROM OURSELVES.
Is the "image" of Christians and the Church today, one of "flexibility" and "adaptation" in order to achieve "SELF-PRESERVATION" instead of "EVANGELIZATION"? Is this the CHURCH that CHRIST gave HIMSELF up for, to cleanse, to Sanctify to present to HIMSELF in splendor" (Ephesians 5:25)? Do we "Live" and "Preach" the Gospel in every occasion, without hesitation, reluctance or fear? Do we really experience the "unpredictable power" and "abundant freedom" of GOD'S WORD? Or, has GOD'S WORD been adapted, given flexibility and molded to "SATISFY UNBELIEVERS"? HAS THE "UNBELIEF" OF "BELIEVERS" RESULTED IN TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH, INSTEAD OF PEOPLES' LIVES?
If we have a little "extra" money,do we donate "SOME" to Church? My neighbor can't pay their rent, but I am saving for a better car that I really "need". The "old" person across the street always wants to talk, but I really don't have the time to listen. Even if we DO SOMETHING REALLY GOOD, but it does not require FAITH; does it REALLY GLORIFY GOD? Hebrews 11:6, "And without FAITH it is impossible to PLEASE GOD..." If we Pray for the healing of others, their Salvation and a most "intimate relationship" with GOD with FAITH that it WILL BE DONE; does that GLORIFY GOD? Is our "FAITH" just to get us through something? Or maybe FAITH GLORIFIES GOD when we don't think we have enough, or can't imagine how it can be done, but we still act with confidence that GOD WILL DO THE REST. A farmer can plant a seed, but it will still grow while he sleeps. SOMETHING NEW TO THINK ABOUT IN THE NEW YEAR. MAY GOD SHOW US OUR HEART'S DESIRES, AND BLESS THEM TO HIS GLORY.
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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