We need to talk. I think we all do. There is an actual reason we need Jesus. Sometimes I sense that many of us are just caught up in the Church culture and don't understand the reality of our situation or our need for Jesus. Many of us enjoy the music and the friendships we have developed. We even feel the depth of the sound bites from the sermons we use as status updates. It feels great to belong to something bigger than ourselves. And if that is all there is to it I hope and pray that the entire Church culture scene would be flipped over and the promoters of it thrown out on their ear.
We need Jesus, not culture. We need Jesus because without him we smell like decaying flesh. Have you ever smelled decaying flesh? If you have you know it is a smell you never forget, it's that powerful. This is what we are like without the life giving blood of Jesus:
Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful. (Romans 1:29-31)
That's us in the natural, when the facade is torn down and our heart revealed. That is what we are like without the resurrection power of Jesus coursing through our veins. This is why we need Jesus and why Church culture can't do a thing for us. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can change our natural make-up. The change Jesus brings to us is like turning straw into gold, or more like a decaying carcass into a living, breathing person.
Without Jesus we stink and all the self help, image improving books and seminars will not help us. It is like dressing up a dead body. It may have clothes but it is still without life. It is like spraying perfume on a corpse. It may help the stink for a minute but the smell of death is far too powerful. Culture tries to conform, to cover up what we are but Jesus offers total transformation, so what was dead is made alive. We need Jesus not culture.
Showing posts with label Romans 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans 1. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
Love Must Always Be A Choice
How much freedom is too much? We like to imagine ourselves to be free but our freedom has limitations. We can't do whatever we want whenever we want because we live in a society where certain freedoms must be limited in order to protect other members of the same society. If we ever get to the place of complete freedom we will have arrived at anarchy, and I don't think any of us really want to experience such complete freedom. Yet, this is the freedom that our Creator gave to us.
Yahweh desires true love and love is not true if it is coerced, manipulated or forced. If you want to go out and murder someone he is not going to stop you, even though he has expressed how he is against it. His desire is for intimacy with you, to walk and talk with you, to be your support, helper, encourager, enabler, Father; but you have the freedom to completely reject him and run in the opposite direction. That is the risk of love.
Like everything else, there are always consequences to freedoms acted upon. Very few of us truly understand what we become without our Creator. We were created to be complete in fellowship with him. Without him we do not have what we need and there is a lack for proper understanding and perspective. When we reject him he leaves us to ourselves and that is never good:
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:24-25)
We need our Creator. We need our Father. We need him and are dependent on him. True freedom is found in him through Jesus Christ; freedom to be everything he intended us to be. We have this mistaken notion that we give up our freedom when we follow Jesus Christ but the fact is we are slaves to our nature without Jesus. We can't do the things our spirit desires to do because our nature keeps us down, oppressed and limits our ability to grow as we were intended.
The world thinks it is free. People think they are doing what they want to do. They don't always understand their distorted desires but they know they can pursue them if they want. If only they knew that those desires are like a cancer eating away at their healthy tissue. They are being deformed, destroyed, and pushed toward death all the while thinking this is their choice, their freedom.
Our challenge is to not fall back into this deception while trying to reveal it to the people we meet. People don't want to hear it; they don't want to believe they have been deceived, that everything is a deformed image of the real beauty that Yahweh created. It is hard to tell a deaf man that he is deaf or to tell a blind man the colour of the sky. But nothing is impossible with Jesus; nothing!
Jesus came to free us up to make a choice because before him we had no choice; we were enslaved to our nature. He cast out demons so people were free to hear his message. He destroyed the power of sin over us so that we were free to hear and to choose. Love dictates that we must have the freedom to choose him or to reject him, and that is the choice that rests in front of all of us. The Church has sinned in the past by trying to force people to love Yahweh but thankfully that is no longer the problem. However, because the Church no longer tries to control people, we see in society the results of the choices that are being made. But this should also mean that the light is as light as the dark is dark. I hope you can understand.
Yahweh desires true love and love is not true if it is coerced, manipulated or forced. If you want to go out and murder someone he is not going to stop you, even though he has expressed how he is against it. His desire is for intimacy with you, to walk and talk with you, to be your support, helper, encourager, enabler, Father; but you have the freedom to completely reject him and run in the opposite direction. That is the risk of love.
Like everything else, there are always consequences to freedoms acted upon. Very few of us truly understand what we become without our Creator. We were created to be complete in fellowship with him. Without him we do not have what we need and there is a lack for proper understanding and perspective. When we reject him he leaves us to ourselves and that is never good:
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:24-25)
We need our Creator. We need our Father. We need him and are dependent on him. True freedom is found in him through Jesus Christ; freedom to be everything he intended us to be. We have this mistaken notion that we give up our freedom when we follow Jesus Christ but the fact is we are slaves to our nature without Jesus. We can't do the things our spirit desires to do because our nature keeps us down, oppressed and limits our ability to grow as we were intended.
The world thinks it is free. People think they are doing what they want to do. They don't always understand their distorted desires but they know they can pursue them if they want. If only they knew that those desires are like a cancer eating away at their healthy tissue. They are being deformed, destroyed, and pushed toward death all the while thinking this is their choice, their freedom.
Our challenge is to not fall back into this deception while trying to reveal it to the people we meet. People don't want to hear it; they don't want to believe they have been deceived, that everything is a deformed image of the real beauty that Yahweh created. It is hard to tell a deaf man that he is deaf or to tell a blind man the colour of the sky. But nothing is impossible with Jesus; nothing!
Jesus came to free us up to make a choice because before him we had no choice; we were enslaved to our nature. He cast out demons so people were free to hear his message. He destroyed the power of sin over us so that we were free to hear and to choose. Love dictates that we must have the freedom to choose him or to reject him, and that is the choice that rests in front of all of us. The Church has sinned in the past by trying to force people to love Yahweh but thankfully that is no longer the problem. However, because the Church no longer tries to control people, we see in society the results of the choices that are being made. But this should also mean that the light is as light as the dark is dark. I hope you can understand.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Ignorance Will Never Be An Excuse
A person would have to choose to be ignorant to say there is no God, and there are reasons why some choose to be ignorant. Evidence of his existence and character are all around us, in creation and in people themselves. The Word says that in order to see him we have to be willing to see him. It says that we need to seek him but that doesn't mean there is no evidence until we do:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead. (Romans 1:20)
Anyone who cares to reflect on nature itself, even just observable nature, will conclude that there is something far great than us at play. We may have the intelligence to be able to manipulate and use, even tame, some of the elements of creation but much of it is beyond our power. Yahweh loves beauty and diversity. Even in a fallen state we can see grace and compassion in the animal Kingdom. There are elements so powerful that man will never be able to tame them. We can see the nature and character of our Creator all around us if we would take an honest look. But we aren't honest.
We aren't honest because if we were we would be accountable for what we admitted and we certainly do not want to be accountable to something that will not let us do what we want to do. I really think that is part of the problem for those who choose to deny Jesus; they don't want to give up control. Unfortunately for them there is no excuse. Ignorance is no excuse. If we keep reading this same passage but switching in from NKJV to the CEV:
That’s why those people don’t have any excuse. They know about God, but they don’t honor him or even thank him. Their thoughts are useless, and their stupid minds are in the dark. They claim to be wise, but they are fools. (v. 20-22)
No excuses because there is plenty of evidence to get people curious enough to go looking, and he promised that if we seek him we will find him. Those who choose to ignore the evidence often do so because they don't want to lose control so instead they "worship" nature itself. They substitute Yahweh, who keeps us accountable, for creation which cannot keep us accountable. They even give creation a name: Mother Nature. They will not acknowledge Yahweh but they will personify nature:
So God let these people go their own way. They did what they wanted to do, and their filthy thoughts made them do shameful things with their bodies. They gave up the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped God’s creation instead of God, who will be praised forever. Amen. (v. 24-25)
I share this because we need to understand where we are, who we live with and how difficult our task can be trying to convince people to open their eyes and take a look. In order to see, people must be willing to become vulnerable and to give up control. That is why it is often in moments of crisis, at the point when a person realizes they have no control, that they finally see the beauty and love of Jesus. Helplessness has a wonderful ability to strip away pride and leave us open to the truth.
But as for us, my fellow believer, I pray our eyes are always wide open as we worship him with thankful hearts today. We know him to be good, loving, compassionate, slow to anger, filled with grace, self-sacrificing, wise, powerful, always with us. Remember:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead. (Romans 1:20)
Anyone who cares to reflect on nature itself, even just observable nature, will conclude that there is something far great than us at play. We may have the intelligence to be able to manipulate and use, even tame, some of the elements of creation but much of it is beyond our power. Yahweh loves beauty and diversity. Even in a fallen state we can see grace and compassion in the animal Kingdom. There are elements so powerful that man will never be able to tame them. We can see the nature and character of our Creator all around us if we would take an honest look. But we aren't honest.
We aren't honest because if we were we would be accountable for what we admitted and we certainly do not want to be accountable to something that will not let us do what we want to do. I really think that is part of the problem for those who choose to deny Jesus; they don't want to give up control. Unfortunately for them there is no excuse. Ignorance is no excuse. If we keep reading this same passage but switching in from NKJV to the CEV:
That’s why those people don’t have any excuse. They know about God, but they don’t honor him or even thank him. Their thoughts are useless, and their stupid minds are in the dark. They claim to be wise, but they are fools. (v. 20-22)
No excuses because there is plenty of evidence to get people curious enough to go looking, and he promised that if we seek him we will find him. Those who choose to ignore the evidence often do so because they don't want to lose control so instead they "worship" nature itself. They substitute Yahweh, who keeps us accountable, for creation which cannot keep us accountable. They even give creation a name: Mother Nature. They will not acknowledge Yahweh but they will personify nature:
So God let these people go their own way. They did what they wanted to do, and their filthy thoughts made them do shameful things with their bodies. They gave up the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped God’s creation instead of God, who will be praised forever. Amen. (v. 24-25)
I share this because we need to understand where we are, who we live with and how difficult our task can be trying to convince people to open their eyes and take a look. In order to see, people must be willing to become vulnerable and to give up control. That is why it is often in moments of crisis, at the point when a person realizes they have no control, that they finally see the beauty and love of Jesus. Helplessness has a wonderful ability to strip away pride and leave us open to the truth.
But as for us, my fellow believer, I pray our eyes are always wide open as we worship him with thankful hearts today. We know him to be good, loving, compassionate, slow to anger, filled with grace, self-sacrificing, wise, powerful, always with us. Remember:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)
Friday, October 3, 2014
By What Code Do You Live?
It is amazing some of the ideas and philosophies people live by. When I ask these people what they base these ideas on and where it comes from I discover the foundation is pretty flimsy. Most are things loosely based on eastern teaching or simple philosophies of life they have held on to from their experience. They are interesting philosophies but also changeable; so changeable that people try on new philosophies many times in their lifetime. The Christian cannot be like this.
Christians will grow and mature in their understanding and application but there is no shifting of foundational understanding in our lives. The benefit we have over everyone else is the Word of God, the Bible. People scoff and we get laughed at, looked down on, ridiculed but let them. At least we understand what we believe and our only challenge is to develop our faith to live what we believe. But this is part of the growth and maturity of our faith.
Refresh yourself in the inspiring words that the Spirit directed through Paul the apostle:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
Plain and simple, with no excuses. The Bible reveals Yahweh, his plan, and who we are in him. There is nothing to add to it or take away from it. We need no other books or explanations. We do not base our life on anything else and we are not ashamed of this fact. We may feel ashamed when we start living outside of the Word and people call us out on it, but of the Word itself there is no shame.
Now the question is: Is this true of us? Are we living a life based on the Word of God, expressed in our life in Jesus? Or are we finding excuses to twist things in a certain way to allow us to do what we want? The Word comes against our sinful nature and the Spirit empowers us to overcome that nature because Jesus Christ destroyed its power over us. But that doesn't mean it has given up trying to claim us back. When we use the Word to measure ourselves and are honest about it, we will find good correction there; correction that keeps us on the right path.
The Word is under attack. It always has been. Each Christian must make the decision to testify with Paul that "it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes". Each of us must make that decision that it reveals to us the righteousness of God and he has called us to seek that righteousness. It is good to ask yourself if you have made such decisions or if you have chosen the philosophies of a fallen world. Just be honest with yourself so that Jesus can do something with it.
Christians will grow and mature in their understanding and application but there is no shifting of foundational understanding in our lives. The benefit we have over everyone else is the Word of God, the Bible. People scoff and we get laughed at, looked down on, ridiculed but let them. At least we understand what we believe and our only challenge is to develop our faith to live what we believe. But this is part of the growth and maturity of our faith.
Refresh yourself in the inspiring words that the Spirit directed through Paul the apostle:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
Plain and simple, with no excuses. The Bible reveals Yahweh, his plan, and who we are in him. There is nothing to add to it or take away from it. We need no other books or explanations. We do not base our life on anything else and we are not ashamed of this fact. We may feel ashamed when we start living outside of the Word and people call us out on it, but of the Word itself there is no shame.
Now the question is: Is this true of us? Are we living a life based on the Word of God, expressed in our life in Jesus? Or are we finding excuses to twist things in a certain way to allow us to do what we want? The Word comes against our sinful nature and the Spirit empowers us to overcome that nature because Jesus Christ destroyed its power over us. But that doesn't mean it has given up trying to claim us back. When we use the Word to measure ourselves and are honest about it, we will find good correction there; correction that keeps us on the right path.
The Word is under attack. It always has been. Each Christian must make the decision to testify with Paul that "it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes". Each of us must make that decision that it reveals to us the righteousness of God and he has called us to seek that righteousness. It is good to ask yourself if you have made such decisions or if you have chosen the philosophies of a fallen world. Just be honest with yourself so that Jesus can do something with it.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
God's Power For Salvation
I cannot fathom how anyone can say they are a Christian and then dismiss the Bible. We have such incredible deceptive teaching permeating the Body and we scratch our heads wondering how people can believe the lies. They can believe it because they have thrown away the Bible or shot holes all through it so there is no longer a solid place to stand. And it is catching on like wild fire because it allows us to create our own beliefs and our own god who will allow us to do whatever we think is best. We have learned nothing from the history of Israel.
I for one stand on the Word of God and I desire nothing else. Call me a fool. Call me an idiot. Call me whatever you like but I will not depart from it nor will I be ashamed of it. I stand with Paul who stated:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
The gospel is power. My opinions and cute stories are not going to save you but the power of the truth of the gospel will. We can try all we want to persuade people but we cannot save them. I cannot save anyone in my name even if I had The Paul Van Buren International Ministries. The only thing that will save is the Gospel of Jesus Christ To Save The World Empowered By The Spirit ministries.
Don't belittle the Word. Don't be afraid to share verses. Don't think that there is no power to change hearts and minds. It is even more powerful when you live the Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to do it through you. That's what it is going to take now to reach people in this age. The whole world and part of the Church is dismissing the Word, discounting it, creating their own separate beliefs. They no longer believe in the worth of the gospel and yet Paul wrote:
For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (v.17)
But I guess that is the real heart of the matter, isn't it: People do not want to know the righteousness of God. They don't want to know there is a right and a wrong because they would have to do something about it. It is better to remain in ignorance or just dismiss the truth and be able to do what you want. The only problem with this thinking is that opinions do not change the truth of Yahweh; it doesn't change the Words of Jesus; it's not going to save you from the fires of hell.
We cannot bring people to Jesus according to our opinions because if we do we are having them build their house of faith on sinking sand. Salvation comes through the truth of the gospel. Do we know that truth? Is our life built on that truth? Are we capable of sharing that truth with others without our opinions getting in the way? Are we capable of sharing the gospel without commentary so that the full power of it touches the hearts of those who need it? It is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes.
I for one stand on the Word of God and I desire nothing else. Call me a fool. Call me an idiot. Call me whatever you like but I will not depart from it nor will I be ashamed of it. I stand with Paul who stated:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
The gospel is power. My opinions and cute stories are not going to save you but the power of the truth of the gospel will. We can try all we want to persuade people but we cannot save them. I cannot save anyone in my name even if I had The Paul Van Buren International Ministries. The only thing that will save is the Gospel of Jesus Christ To Save The World Empowered By The Spirit ministries.
Don't belittle the Word. Don't be afraid to share verses. Don't think that there is no power to change hearts and minds. It is even more powerful when you live the Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to do it through you. That's what it is going to take now to reach people in this age. The whole world and part of the Church is dismissing the Word, discounting it, creating their own separate beliefs. They no longer believe in the worth of the gospel and yet Paul wrote:
For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (v.17)
But I guess that is the real heart of the matter, isn't it: People do not want to know the righteousness of God. They don't want to know there is a right and a wrong because they would have to do something about it. It is better to remain in ignorance or just dismiss the truth and be able to do what you want. The only problem with this thinking is that opinions do not change the truth of Yahweh; it doesn't change the Words of Jesus; it's not going to save you from the fires of hell.
We cannot bring people to Jesus according to our opinions because if we do we are having them build their house of faith on sinking sand. Salvation comes through the truth of the gospel. Do we know that truth? Is our life built on that truth? Are we capable of sharing that truth with others without our opinions getting in the way? Are we capable of sharing the gospel without commentary so that the full power of it touches the hearts of those who need it? It is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Why Is God Hidden?
I heard it said recently that one of the great atheists of our current age said, if there is a god he is one who likes to hide himself. No truer words have been spoken. Yahweh has hidden himself. This needs to be understood, even in the light of what it says in Romans:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
Most will agree to this even though they would rather attribute it to a mythical "mother nature". There are even some scientists who acknowledge that creation was by design, they are just not convinced who designed it. However, their is a difference between seeing the invisible attributes and knowing the Creator.
Yahweh could have made it simple to find him but there is a point in him hiding his face. In Jeremiah 29 we find this verse:
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (v. 13)
It was his promise that he gave to his nation, his chosen people, those who were suppose to glorify him to the whole world. He was sending them into captivity because of their rebellion but he was not sending them without hope. He was telling them that when they were ready to come back into relationship with him he would then bring them out of their captivity. Relationship was far more important than a comfortable life. This is a promise he had made long before they rebelled because Yahweh knew the heart of his people. Back in 2 Chronicles, during Solomon's time as king, he gave the same promise:
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)
All of Yahweh's acts of correction of his children's behaviour was to have them turn back to him. The "seek my face" indicated the personal, intimate relationship he desired with his people. Do a word search of this phrase and see how often it was used. It is a point I fear we often miss; relationship with Jesus is of far greater value than any comfort or pleasure received in this world.
Have you ever wondered why there is so little evidence of anything throughout history? Why do we have to search so hard for little scraps of evidence of Biblical events and of the existence of Jesus? Because Yahweh has hidden himself so that we would have to search for him. He is quick to reveal himself to all those who earnestly seek him; those who search for him with all their heart. He isn't interested in massive crowds of lukewarm people paying him lip service. He is looking to have relationship with those who are wanting to love him with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind, all their strength. In the seeking we force ourselves to see things we do not want to deal with, to expose the secrets of our hearts, to admit that we can't save ourselves and need the intervention of our Creator.
Those of us who do know Jesus because we have searched for him, desiring to find him, know that our faith can never we shaken. It would be like denying the existence of my earthly father. I have known him, grew up under him, talk to him often, appreciate all that he has done for me. I am not about to agree with someone who says he doesn't exist just because they have never met him. Craziness.
Now to those of you who do know Jesus, let me encourage you in this thing. Remember, it is a relationship. It is not a one off. It is not a prayer that you prayed and now you are good for a lifetime. Relationships grow cold when neglected. Cold relationships lead to doubt and doubt drives in wedges. A relationship with Jesus requires a daily seeking. It requires time. It requires getting to know each other, which we do through the Word of God. It requires worship, appreciation, thanksgiving. You know Jesus so keep on knowing him every day, and let him fill you with wisdom and direction for your daily living. Remember, no longer what you want, but what he desires. That is a healthy relationship with Yahweh, who desires to be sought and found by everyone who.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
Most will agree to this even though they would rather attribute it to a mythical "mother nature". There are even some scientists who acknowledge that creation was by design, they are just not convinced who designed it. However, their is a difference between seeing the invisible attributes and knowing the Creator.
Yahweh could have made it simple to find him but there is a point in him hiding his face. In Jeremiah 29 we find this verse:
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (v. 13)
It was his promise that he gave to his nation, his chosen people, those who were suppose to glorify him to the whole world. He was sending them into captivity because of their rebellion but he was not sending them without hope. He was telling them that when they were ready to come back into relationship with him he would then bring them out of their captivity. Relationship was far more important than a comfortable life. This is a promise he had made long before they rebelled because Yahweh knew the heart of his people. Back in 2 Chronicles, during Solomon's time as king, he gave the same promise:
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)
All of Yahweh's acts of correction of his children's behaviour was to have them turn back to him. The "seek my face" indicated the personal, intimate relationship he desired with his people. Do a word search of this phrase and see how often it was used. It is a point I fear we often miss; relationship with Jesus is of far greater value than any comfort or pleasure received in this world.
Have you ever wondered why there is so little evidence of anything throughout history? Why do we have to search so hard for little scraps of evidence of Biblical events and of the existence of Jesus? Because Yahweh has hidden himself so that we would have to search for him. He is quick to reveal himself to all those who earnestly seek him; those who search for him with all their heart. He isn't interested in massive crowds of lukewarm people paying him lip service. He is looking to have relationship with those who are wanting to love him with all their heart, all their soul, all their mind, all their strength. In the seeking we force ourselves to see things we do not want to deal with, to expose the secrets of our hearts, to admit that we can't save ourselves and need the intervention of our Creator.
Those of us who do know Jesus because we have searched for him, desiring to find him, know that our faith can never we shaken. It would be like denying the existence of my earthly father. I have known him, grew up under him, talk to him often, appreciate all that he has done for me. I am not about to agree with someone who says he doesn't exist just because they have never met him. Craziness.
Now to those of you who do know Jesus, let me encourage you in this thing. Remember, it is a relationship. It is not a one off. It is not a prayer that you prayed and now you are good for a lifetime. Relationships grow cold when neglected. Cold relationships lead to doubt and doubt drives in wedges. A relationship with Jesus requires a daily seeking. It requires time. It requires getting to know each other, which we do through the Word of God. It requires worship, appreciation, thanksgiving. You know Jesus so keep on knowing him every day, and let him fill you with wisdom and direction for your daily living. Remember, no longer what you want, but what he desires. That is a healthy relationship with Yahweh, who desires to be sought and found by everyone who.
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