Is redemption simply a matter of spouting off a few words? Is contrition no more than asking for forgiveness, or does the sorrow we feel in having sinned, and the absolute longing of our soul for forgiveness reach deep within us, and bring us to the verge of heartbreak and beneath the lentel of death’s door to the promise of forgiveness?
We look about the world today and realize that the foes of God are doing more than simply withdrawing from worship, or fading away into their worldliness, they are actively pursuing the destruction of the Church, and every vestige of faith. We see this and fret over what is to come, but this isn’t the first time such a thing has occurred, so how should we, as men and women of faith approach it? We should take our lesson from what has come before, see His victory, and take heart.
When we travel into the world, and see the marvelous cathedrals that have been built there, we are amazed by their beauty, but when we return home to our meager little church where we comfortably kneel and feel intimacy with the Holy Spirit, speaking with Jesus, and worshipping God, we find that this is the well from which our living water flows, and the source of our greatest happiness. No grand Chapels, nor towering spires, can satisfy us more.
In this time of continued pandemic we often think that it has become difficult to gather together to pray and worship, but the truth is that, other than seeing each other’s faces, it is no more difficult. Over the thousands of years since creation, We have become accustomed to gathering bodily in synagogues, churches, and other places, but our true place of prayer and worship is always before the throne of God, and Jesus Christ.
The sins of the world; when we come to know Jesus do we rid ourselves of them entirely, or just place them in a storage closet? Are we like a hoarder who has no further use for something, yet can’t quite bring himself to let go of it? Or, are we truly transformed, and ready to crucify the old nature; and the possessions of the sinful life we once lived? Many of us let go of the outward evidence of our sin, while still allowing the memory, and temptation of it to live on. So let’s ask ourselves to honestly answer this one question... “Have I put to death my old sinful life, and allowed it to crucify me?”
A presidential election Is rapidly approaching in the United States, and the airways, newspapers, internet, and telephone calls are saturated with ads and news of it. If this much attention were given to our faith, O how wonderful this world would be. We call ourselves citizens of our various countries, when in fact we should consider ourselves to be citizens of Heaven alone.
When the Lord saves us, delivers us, or redeems us, are we inclined to keep his goodness to ourselves, or do we openly praise Him and tell all who will listen about His mercy? Are we only inclined to lift Him up in the presence of those who need to Believe in Him, and accept Him as their Lord, or do we witness to our fellow believers so that they will be encouraged in their faith? Witnessing to others of our faith, and God’s amazing goodness in our lives fills each ear that hears with a special blessing intended only for their refreshment, encouragement, or motivation in faith. So we should witness openly as a matter of course.
The wealthy dress in fine clothes and drive exquisite cars. They live in fine houses and dine in fancy restaurants. When at the opera, or sporting events, don’t they sit above the common people where they can be seen? Why is this so? It is because they desire their successes to be envied, and to separate themselves from those of lesser means, but not so far that their power and wealth won’t be acknowledged and bring them glory. In a somewhat similar fashion, we, as people of faith, are meant to allow others to see our faithfulness, and good works, but for very different reasons... we are meant to give all glory of God, and give others the opportunity to do the same. In this way we are inviting the lost to join us in faith.
We are not meant to take pride in our faith, or works, but are to remain humbled by them, knowing full well that it is only by God’s love, and grace, that we have come know Jesus, and as a result of His sacrifice can stand in the Father’s presence. No man, by his own doing, can earn an audience with God in Heaven lest He has been called in faith, and shown works, through Jesus Christ.
Do we say that God abides in us, and yet we treat those around us with disdain? Do we say that we believe in the name of Jesus Christ, but can’t seem to love one another? If there is no love in us for our brothers; then we are fooling ourselves, and all we say that we have believed amounts to nothing.
As Christians we are given many gifts, and spiritual powers, but we should be careful not to take pride in them, nor forget that our gifts are intended to be used to glorify God, and not ourselves. Jesus warned His disciples of this, and we should heed his words as well... even though spirits are subject to us, our greatest joy should be in the fact that our names are written in heaven. If we are not saved, then we have nothing, and though we command an army of spirits we are still lost.
Does life, or those you encounter in it, attempt to lead you away from the will that God has planned for you? Once we have prayed that God reveal His will for us, and we begin working towards it, are we tempted by the world to go a different route? Sometimes we are offered great positions, power, or treasure, and it can look good to us, even holy, but if it isn’t what God has planned for us then it is a ruse, a lie, and in the end, a curse. So how do we resist these apparent gifts, or honors, and remain in the humble will of God?
How perfectly contrived is Satan’s trap that is set using our own self as bait. Nothing lures us away from God, and our faith in Jesus, like the smell of our own morality or self-righteousness. Do we view ourselves in a mirror, and smile at what we see? Do we look at our good deeds, and think that we have certainly pleased God with them, or moreover... that we are saving ourselves by them? Do we say to ourselves “ How perfect is my faith, and how righteous am I!”? This is a death trap that springs shut on our soul.
What does it mean for us to have overcome the world? Does it mean that we have succeeded in gathering to ourselves all of its riches? Does it mean that we command its inhabitants to serve us? Does it mean that our will is imposed upon it? Or, does it mean that our faith allows us to conquer every negative influence that the world attempts to infect us with, and that in our spiritual health we will not be drawn away from loving God, Jesus, the Spirit, and one another?
To be a vine in our Father’s garden means that we fall under His watchful eye, and the constant attention of His pruning. Nothing is gained unless something is left behind. No vine branches out and bears more fruit without the careful pruning of the vinedresser. How conceited we are to think that the vine, and its branches, are God’s sole focus, no, it is the fruit, and the beautiful flowers that the gardener desires; Passion fruit, Grapes, and the sweet taste of love.