What Makes Us Different?

 

                                                     What Makes Us Different?

Other religions tell their adherents to practice righteousness, to try to be good, and then maybe God will then allow you to approach Him. Our God tells us to come as we are, sinful and needy.  Now.  And He will make us good. 

We  don't try to make ourselves good to come to God. We come to Him and He makes us good!

And He is reaching out to us, drawing us to Him. Coming to rescue us.

What a contrast! What an offer!

There is an old hymn, written almost 300 years ago, a favorite among our pioneer  ancestors, that described in detail that message. It was a favorite of Daniel Boone and his people.

It is titled, "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy" -- here are some of my favorite lines - -- "Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power. Come, ye weary, heavy-laden, lost and ruined by the fall. If you tarry till you're better, you will never come a all! Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream. All the fitness He requireth, is to feel your need of Him!"

Chorus: "I will arise and go to Jesus -- He will embrace me in His arms..."

I love this old hymn . Wish I could hear it sung today just as generations did in the past.

We need to remind each other of what it reminds us of.......Now is the day of salvation....don't wait. Come just as we are.

(We would never be good enough! And we can never be too bad!)

As a Father Disciplines His Son

 As a Father Disciplines His Son

"Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you" (Deuteronomy 8:5).

The Bible teaches that God disciplines those He loves -- His precious children. When we suffer hardships and afflictions in this life He uses it to conform us to the likeness of Jesus who suffered indescribably.

God's fatherly discipline never seems pleasant at the time, but when we understand it is for our own good we can submit to it and say with Hezekiah, "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish" (Isaiah 38:17).

But often we see that only when we look back. In the present, though, we can, if we choose, "Glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us  to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5).

It's About Noah!

 

A friend just came back from touring the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. He loved it!

Other popular replicas of the ark are in Hong Kong and the Netherlands -- they appeal to millions of people who are entranced with the account of Noah and the ark that that saved him and his family from the flood!

Great research goes into these replicas: exact wood, measurements, proportions, windows, door, food supply and storage, endless details to present the  models as perfect as possible.

And think about toy stores --they have models children can put together themselves! Games, puzzles, coloring books -- people for years have been fascinated with the ark.

Favorite topics for VBS and Sunday School!

But maybe we should change our focus -- maybe we need to focus on Noah himself. The ark saved Noah's family, but more Noahs could save more of the world! 

Scripture tells us "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in fellowship with God"(Genesis 6). NLT

Then in Hebrews 11 we read "By faith Noah when warned of things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith."

We live in a corrupt world, too! Evil is valued as good and good is called evil. Yet in that dark world Noah lived for God and exhibited righteousness.

 So can we -- In our corrupt world we can still have fellowship with God -- we can exhibit righteousness and glorify God ....and condemn the world. 

Let's concentrate on replicating Noah, not the ark!

We, too,  have been warned of 'things not yet seen'. We know what is ahead.

We can help spread God's kingdom right here, right now!

"Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven!"

PS Genesis 6:22 -- "Noah did all that God commanded him to do." Obedience! That will likely not appear on my grave marker!

[If there had been a lot of Noahs, there would not have been a flood!]

The Guilty Woman

She was 'caught in the act.' 

She couldn't claim innocence. 

She was alone! Not even the guilty man was with her! 

She didn't come to Jesus to beg forgiveness -- she was dragged there by her accusers for ridicule and punishment -- and especially to accuse and discredit Jesus. Surely He wouldn't forgive her -- after all, she was caught in the act!  They demanded she be stoned. She had no hope. After all, she was caught in the act!

Jesus didn't pick up a stone. He issued His famous challenge: "Whoever of you is without sin, you cast the first stone." 

They began to walk away.  Finally she and Jesus were alone. "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus said. 

Did she look at Him? I imagine she did lift her downcast eyes to meet His. I imagine she gazed at Him in wonder and amazement. The only one qualified to condemn her didn't. 

He gave her mercy when she was too hopeless to even ask for it! 

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." 

She could have spoken those words. I do...almost every day! And I, too, have been caught in the act!  But all my sin grows 'strangely dim....in the light of His glory and grace'!

 

What Do We Worship?

Who do we worship?


The gods we worship write their names on our faces; be sure of that.

A person will worship something, have no doubt about that.

We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our heart, but it will out.

That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character.

Therefore it behooves us to be careful of what we worship, for what we are worshiping we are becoming.  

                                  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson



And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

                               -- 2 Corinthians 3:18