12 March, 2009
(Mark 12:30, 40, 43-44,
Matt 5:3, 6:19-21, 25-34)
Two mites would have sustained her
For one more day
But with her mites
She gave her life away
Out of her nothing to give
She gave it all
Even as the dust
Forsaking the nothing
She did trust
No permanent dwelling
Or earthly family with which to live
But the Lord sustaineth
And in the Lord she remaineth
To the eyes of men
This widow was poor
But to God she had sought the kingdom
And she had riches in store
25 January, 2009
by my brother Brandon on our other site, The Way…
“Standing on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, admiring the beauty and serenity of the cool water softly rippling over my feet, thoughts of judgment entered my mind. Strange, I know, but give it a moment. Ankle-deep in the water, I thought, “From whence did come this wonderful creation?” (Okay, so maybe not in those exact words, but the idea is clear.) The obvious answer, of course, is God, but in that moment He led me deeper to ponder the specific cause of the ocean’s existence; judgment…” cont’d here
16 December, 2008
Most of us know that fasting(abstaining from food/drink) is supposed to be something that followers of Jesus Christ are to do regularly for various reasons.
Matt 6:16-18,Matt 9:14-17,2 Cor 6:4-5
2 Cor 11:25-27,Matt 17:20-21
Acts 14:23,1 Cor 7:5
But how many of us have come across Isaiah 58, and know what fasting really is? Brethren, read through the passage and see the importance of it. Is our abstaining from food(or other “good deeds” for that matter) really accomplishing anything if we neglect what the Lord really wants from us, obedience. In Isaiah 58, the people of God were looking for God, were excited about God, did things for God, wanted to know His will, and heartily prayed a lot.(58:2)But still wondered why their “deeds” were not rewarded and it seemed that God was not listening or paying attention to it at all.(v 3)Israel believed that their acceptance by God was by their own works.They didn’t see that abstaining from food had nothing to do with what God wanted from them. And that they were fasting with the wrong motives, and not sorrowful; it was all a show (v 4,5). They were despising their neighbors and exploiting them. They were only thinking of themselves. True fasting is denial of self and the loving of others(God AND man). Hear the Lord:
Isa 58:6-7 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
How can we say we love God, who we don’t see, and yet not love our neighbor who we do see? Just “loving God” is not acceptable. (1John 4:7-21) Loving our neighbor IS loving God; it’s a package deal. We feign love for God if we neglect others and their needs. We are then liars. By this we will be judged. (Matt 25:31-46) whether we are sheep or goats; the obedient on the right(sheep), the liars on the left(goats). Did you deny yourself of daily comfort, so that you could relieve your neighbor in his affliction, his hunger, his lack of clothing, his lack of shelter? “Well done good and faithful servant“(Matt 25:21)….”Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Did you turn from your brother’s need, when you had it in your hand to give or do? “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels“
Does it seem like your prayers are not being answered? And that your walk the Lord seems to be stagnant, though you are doing, doing, doing for the Lord? Examine yourself, and whether you are truly obeying Him or just going through the motions. When we truly obey and walk in love for God and our neighbor it is His delight to answer our needs and enlighten our eyes, and guide us in His will.(Isaiah 58:8-12)(1John 3:16-24)
(Isaish58:13-14) Resting in the Lord’s work should be our delight. We need to fast from our own works, our ways, our own idea of pleasure, and our own opinions. Esteem and relieve others first above ourselves. When we do that, we can then without pretense say “I Love God” (Matt 25:35-40)
2 November, 2008
But a life destitute of spiritual worth and dominantly evil in its course of existence postulates an ignorance which could be irrevocably fatal.
Breathing over the habitations of men is a divine reticence which in spite of human rebellion, continues to be reserved. Silence in itself is a message on its own. It proclaims in mute eloquence, the necessity for caution.
Recorded throughout the word of God are punitive measures meted out to evil-doers. The children of Israel, in response to the cravings of an uncontrolled appetite gave in to harsh expressions against Jehovah and His messenger. They took God’s silence to mean God’s absence and eventually were made to reap the bitter harvest of their spiritual irreverence [Ex. 17:7, I Cor.10:10].
It was there in the wilderness that the people ate and drank and rose up to play—1 Cor.10:7. They who were created in the image of God, who were separate unto Him and should be a pattern for mankind, abused the goodness of God, descended from His high and lofty calling and consequently degenerated into the lower level of animal existence. They ate, they drank and they rose up to play. Food, drink and sex are about all any animal can think of. It is impossible to find a dog thinking about God or expressing religious desires.
But God did not create man to be like a dog or any other animal. Neither was he ever fashioned to burn himself out in the consuming flames of unbridled passions. The whole duty of man is to worship God and to fear Him. And, that exactly is what we do not do. More than that, humanity continues in a way as to oppose the worship of God. Indeed, iniquity continues to gain universal acceptance.
Presently in our world, the prophet is accounted mad and the priest insane. Oppression, injustice and frivolity of the basest sorts continue to be the chief delights of the times. Civilization with all its attendant benefits has failed to and indeed cannot rectify this problem. Learning, though to be desired has been unable to refine man. Throughout history we find that those who were supposed to have been educated have not been exempt from the practice of cruelty and oppression against fellow men. Even the best of human governments have crumpled beneath the burdensome weight of wickedness.
In recent times there has been an almost universal cry for democracy. But what is democracy, other than a legal endorsement and execution of self-will? Democracy, a movement for the rights of individuals, in other words a legal campaign for self at the expense of restraint is the unanimous cry of the nations today. Lest someone accuse me of being anti-democracy, I reply, no government system ever practiced in this world has been free from the same ills that plague democracy as we know it today. Indeed, we can reasonably conclude from experience that anarchy, communism, military dictatorship and several others are worse forms of government.
God’s spokesmen throughout the ages continue to faithfully proclaim the coming of the Lord. We have become so familiar with this that we usually treat it as though it were some mere spiritual fairy tale. But does it occur to you that, the coming of our Lord promises a global change of government right here on this earth? [Rev.11:15] Jesus Christ is coming again. Spiritually vibrant souls daily discern His approaching footsteps as they observe the conversation and conduct of the times rapidly proceeding towards the consummation of the ages in the coming of our Lord. All things are proceeding in the direction which eternal counsel had pre-determined. And when our Lord arrives, He will take over the rule of the earth to establish a new government system which will not be in the form of any kind of government we presently practice.
Men certainly do not like this, and will undoubtedly form an opposition under the man of sin, who also will desire to sit and remain at the helm of authority, even as man opposed Christ at His first advent when human government slaughtered innocent babies to retain power [Matt.2:16].
But the King of kings will break forth in power and blazing glory and every knee shall bow before Him without option [Phil.2:9-10]. Unfortunately, though we know this, mankind persists in rebellion and still would have none of God. We continue to seek peace while being actively hostile to the Prince of Peace.
Yet heaven is silent with a pregnant reserve at the moment. Israel of old, as well as Sodom and Gomorrah were judged for the idolatry of sensual gratification. Shall we in our generation be absolved of the same sin? [2Tim.5:6]. Nadab and Abihu suffered the blow of mortal destruction for profanely intruding into the discharge of sacred duties. What is the fate of the vast array of spiritually unwashed preachers we boast of today?
Ananias and Sapphira died by the hand of the Lord because they lied to the Holy Spirit? Are there then no liars in the church today? If there are, and I know there are, what shall be the end of all such whose very presence threatens the church with corruption? Will divine justice retain any worth, if it launches judgments on generations which have had lesser light while excusing a highly sophisticated age like ours?
Jehovah’s apparent silence must not be taken for granted.These things were written for our examples—1. Cor.10:11. They are precursors to the larger events of the age yet to be unfolded. God will not be unfair to the ages past by absolving us of the same sins of which we deliberately refuse to repent. Apart from the crowd, all alone by yourself, dear reader, it is imperative that you honestly and critically evaluate your lifestyle. Face yourself and weigh the consequences of your actions in the bright and burning light of eternal verities. The Lord God who formed all, sees all and will most certainly require an account from each one[Heb.4:13].
Do you squander the currency of grace on the forbidden wares of rebellion? Perhaps, you mock and even try to seduce those who have chosen to trail the Path of righteousness. Is this your daily vocation? Then yours is an infinitely sorry case. Lest you be deceived by the apparent triumph of evil and of the ungodly, listen to the wisdom and the intent behind the great expressive silence,Let both grow together until the harvest, and the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn the, but gather the wheat into my barn”—Mtt.13:30
Day after day, men, women and children are encountered driving along the streets, talking business in the shops, dancing away their time in disco halls and many such things as occupy the time and affection of mortals. Some will be discovered living for the sake of God’s kingdom irrespective of their location, be it in the bank or in the barn. Others will be noticed promoting their own desires and pursuing the betterment of bodies which in the last analysis must be subject to decay.
Whatever path you choose to trail, heaven’s admonition is sure, He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work—Rev.22:11-12. Nothing could be plainer than this. Except for any who to his eternal detriment would deliberately choose to gamble with his soul by continuing in sin, covert or overt, he who has ears to hear will hear. May the Lord give you wisdom.
Written by Ade–Peters
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