Who is Jesus Christ and What Does He Mean To Us?

In the gospel of John, in chapter 17, we are given an in-depth view of the heart of Jesus just before he was arrested. He prayed for his disciples:

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. John 17:14-18

There was definitely a reaction to the ministry of Jesus during that day and time. The 'world' did not greet him with open arms just as the 'world' still does not today. 

The next few verses of his prayer include you and me. Yes, Jesus Christ prayed for us:

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:20-26

Jesus looked forward to the future. He is resurrected, ascended and is 'set down at the right hand of God'.  This is a figure of speech. God is spirit and is everywhere. 'The right hand of God' refers to the authority of God given to Jesus Christ as head of his church.  It is not a place. It is his function. For a long time I thought of it as a place. If that is true, we might ask "What does he do all day?". Having the authority of God to carry on God's business to his church, he is very busy!

Take a look at this verse:

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:4-6

What does that indicate about your own life? On the day of Pentecost, Jesus Christ by the authority of God, poured out the gift of holy spirit for all who believe. With this gift believers have all the enablements to carry out God's word and works on this earth.

In the Epistle of 1st John we see this come into fruition. This what the church is now:

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. I John 1:3-4

No one can stand between you and God, Jesus Christ and any believer who walks in God's light. We have a lot to be thankful for. This was God's ultimate goal from the beginning of time. So what if the world philosophies don't agree, we have the tools to handle it! The best thing you can do in any situation is go straight to God and expect help and guidance, not to mention comfort, peace and joy. It is all in the package! Read John 14:11-20!

 

 

 

 

 

Religion causes even greater divides and much of it centers on the who and why of Jesus Christ. 

 

Tempt God?

The world sometimes seems like it is spinning out of control. We have periods of prosperity and well-being and then along comes something we can't quite figure out. If we look back into Old Testament times there are plenty of examples of this happening to learn from. The Hebrews trekking across the wildness is a great one.  God supplied the Hebrew's needs time and time again, and yet when something went awry, they threw up their arms in desperation and complained and argued with God. Moses asked them why they were tempting God? If we think of how we use the word 'tempt', we might not understand and we might ask: "How do we tempt God?"

When Jesus was confronted by some formidable situations in the wilderness, the enemy challenged him several times to get him to doubt God. The devil wanted Jesus to worship him. Jesus answered with God's word. Slyly, the adversary responded by challenging him with scripture. 

4 But he  (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee (to keep thee in all thy ways): and in their hands they shall bear thee up, , lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:4-7

Satan quoted this scripture from Psalm 91:10-13.

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Psalm 91:10-13

He omitted the words 'to keep thee in all thy ways'  and he added the words 'at any time' to Psalm 91:6. Not only did the adversary misquote God's word, he changed the meaning slightly especially when he tried to cast doubt using the word 'IF' to start with and the last verse 91:13 he did not quote. 

He tried to provoke Jesus into testing God out. Jesus zeroed in on the enemy's basic problem of challenging God! Tempting, testing and proving God biblically is questioning "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7) Jesus knew and believed His Father had his back. He did not have to prove it to the devil!

We can do the same in the current crazy times.  We can endure having fear pushed at us by keeping God and his faithfulness in the forefront of our minds.

Does God Side With Some Over Others?

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay (Neither); but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? Joshua 5:13-14

God doesn't take sides, we take God's side.

38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. Mark 9:38-40

God is no respecter of persons. He is pleased when anyone trust and believes his word.

25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! Numbers11:25-29

God desires that all walk, trust and rely on him.

Justice

The greatest joy on earth is when we see the light of God's love shine through in all that's right. It is so satisfying when truth wins out, is clearly visible and true justice becomes solidly recognized. The inner heart longs for it.

Things appear turbulent in our country right now. It seems that we are in a plainly visible conflict between good and evil. Good embraces all that is God and his wonderful love. Evil pushes fear and distorts how love is defined :

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

People are confused and as they go about trying to establish a sense of their own righteousness, the water gets muddier. Frantic people seek control over what is going on around them.  Speaking out about 'racism' and 'canceling culture'.and 'virtue signaling' are instruments stirring the pot. 

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Isaiah 5:21

There is nothing new under the sun. These things that are happening now have gone on throughout the history of the world. People get trapped in a vise between saving the world and wanting our own way.  All through history race, culture, religion, political views and the desire for control and power have been the fuel for adverse human relationships and division.

Truth is beautiful and peaceful and helps us to become our best selves. Jesus Christ knew what satisfied his soul and that was carrying out God's plan for justification of every willing heart.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

When I hear about some 'got caught' story in the news, it makes me think everything is going to turn around and I watch and wait looking for truth to triumph. We don't instantly get the clearing and setting things the way they should be. Chaos and confusion continue to push away at our minds. In a perfect Godly world this would not happen, but we are not living in a perfect world:

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. John 18:36        

Having things 'on earth as they are in heaven' is a prayer and occurs in an individual heart through peace and knowledge of the love of God.

God is our haven but that doesn't mean that we lock ourselves up and hide, or not speak the truth in love. The spirit of God that works in us helps us to see through the smoke and mirrors of evil and act accordingly. As we act, we then enjoy the satisfaction that lifts us up and out of the smog with genuine joy.

The Land of Snakes

In the Old Testament there is a short significant record in Numbers 21:

6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:6-9

The children of Israel who wandering through the Exodus wilderness came into an area that had a snake infestation and it was a lethal problem! The Lord didn't send the snakes (Hebrew idiom), they were already in the land. The sojourners, as their manner was, had been known to complain often  about the trek through the wildness. The more they complained the less they believed and the snakes became a serious roadblock for them.  As they cried out, God told Moses what they needed to do.  God told him to make a brazen serpent and lift it up on a pole for all to see.  The Israelites were to look at that symbol and in doing so, averted the lethal effects of the snakes.

Fast forwarding to the New Testament, the gospel of John refers to this event in John 3:

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God's purpose for Jesus Christ's is to destroy the works of the devil:

8 He that committeth (practices ) sin (lack of belief in God) is of the devil; for the devil sinneth (was treasonous to) from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8

These snakes indigenous to the land were harmful to God's people.  God's solution was to focus their sights on the brazen serpent trusting God and they were healed by believing. Jesus Christ took on sin so that we might life.  Our focus on the purpose of Jesus Christ is the answer the difficulties that present to us in the world.  His sacrifice provided a way for us to spiritually be protected from the effects of sin. That is where our focus needs to be.

In the Old Testament record the snakes didn't suddenly disappear, but each individual could choose God's deliverance. They could either sit around and moan or focus on moving forward. Think of all the snaky things in our wilderness. On second thought don't think about these things. Our deliverance spiritually lies with the head of the spiritual church today as our savior. That is what we look at! Jesus shows us the love of God. We are drawn to God through love

From This Day Forward

Jesus Christ opened his ministry by reading from God's word about his own life:

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah 61:1-2). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach (evangelize) the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach (herald) deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.    Luke 4:17-19

The Spirit of the lord was upon him. The wind in his sails was the spirit of God. He was 'anointed' by God to 'speak the good news'  to those who felt spiritual poverty and humbly desired to know how to fill their lives with the power of God. We have all felt 'spiritual poverty'.  The world around us often makes us feel that way. When we truly understand God's desire for our lives we should never feel  lack. Our hearts are healed.

In the Old Testament when individuals were anointed, oil was rubbed on their heads signifying God's authority. Oil represents the spirit of God.  The holy spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost following Christ's being raised to his authorized position as God's right-hand man. That day, all who believed could receive the anointing of God and receive power to carry out God's work on this earth. We need to see that these actions contained in this verse apply to us too.

We can herald forth the privileges of the kingdom to those who are caught in the web of the world's ideological prisons. We can help set captives free. Prisons are dark with no spiritual light. As people hear the good news, their eyes are opened just as the lids of our eyes opened reveal light, the dark prisons of people's minds are opened by the light of God's word. Everything changes. We don't have to sit back and wade through all the mud the world throws at us, we are to be the ones who permeate this world with the light of God's deliverance.  We don't have to look back at the chains. We are a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17) and we have the ministry of reconciliation. We are no more on defense, we take charge spiritually over the darkness and we do it by exercising our righteousness.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

None of us are angry victims, we are victors. Forget victimhood! God's righteousness brings peace, joy and powerful results. In 'everything we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and we can do 'exceedingly abundantly according to the power that works in us' (Ephesians 3:20). This thinking is not a bunch not pious platitudes, it is a real call to a winning mindset and subsequent actions that change the world.

Rise Up and Walk

The first miracle recorded after the the great outpouring of holy spirit after the Day of Pentecost is

Resurrection Power

recorded in Acts 3:1-8:

3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up (wake, arouse or rise up) and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

It is one of my favorite records. The difference between how this crippled man received help through begging for alms and others carrying him around to what Peter and John woke him up to is huge. "Rise up and walk!' It is God's gracious gift  through the accomplished work of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God's power  awakens all who believe. This isn't about alms or giving in the physical sense. This is spiritual! God's gift of holy spirit is means of empowerment to all who believe.

I see a lot of memes and comments engaging in 'virtue signaling' these days stirring up sympathy and dependent enabling as a path to to help people, What really works to help people is godly empowerment. Yes, we offer our hand, but individuals have to wake and rise up by believing God. It is not something we do for them or force them to accept. It is what God can do in them that is the greatest boost of all!! That is what we can share with anyone who will listen!

It is as true today as it was back at the time of the resurrection.. It applies to Hebrews, Gentiles, blacks, white, males, females, children or aged ones.  It is the answer to racism, sexism, bigotry and discrimination. God has left no one behind. He is no respecter of persons. Wouldn't you just love to walk through all the so-called 'peaceful protests' and share this message?  Wouldn't you love to see people walking and leaping and praising God instead of this crazy stuff going on?  We just need to say what Peter an John said: 'Silver and gold have I none but what I know and have experienced, I can share with you' and leave it up to them to make the choice of believing it or not.

Righteousness and Anger

Many things happen to us to make us angry. We want life to be fair but it often isn't because we live in a world populated by humans. Each of us responds to the world logic and patterns in our own way. We often experience conflict because of a multitude of factors present around us.

When logic comes from God's word (logos), it brings peace and a sense of well-being, not agitation. A very big point to understand is that God's wrath is passionate, not hateful. God is a God of love. He designed the human mind to think and have certain emotions to help protect us from the evil that exists in the world. He obviously thinks that anger to certain things is good, and he teaches us how to deal with it.

Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

We are surrounded daily by actions and influences that seem not fair and arouse a sense of justice in our hearts. At the end of the day (I mean this literally not figuratively like it is so often used) we have the opportunity to lay our head on our pillow and give it all to God. It is at those moments we can  listen and genuinely forgive. We can really allow God to do his love thing to handle what is on our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean giving in to injustice.  It means asking God to resolve any problem the way it needs to be resolved. Our 'pillow talk' can  assure us a good night's rest only to wake up the next day expecting good things ahead. This is to be viewed as a dynamic of life not a rigid rule . It is from a very deep love that God guides us in this direction. God's kingdom abides in this realm.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Righteousness is not indignant. It is a description of our right to God's love and solutions. Righteousness is not about competition, jealousy or argument of who's right and wrong. I often make mistakes, but I have realized that we can be still righteous even when we make mistakes and that is what elevates us to God's kingdom here on earth (remember the prayer, 'thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven'?) The Pharisees (the 'separated ones') and scribes tried to teach people the law.  With the advent of Jesus Christ we could become righteous by giving us access to God through grace not law.

Most people who stay angry have conflict in their own hearts and allow the adversary to run in through and ransack their brains. Believe me when I say I know about that. God can help us get out of that rut when we understand what true righteousness involves.  And I know about that too. At night when I close my eyes, I love laying what is on my mind all out before God. When I wake up the first thought I have is usually one of great expectation for the day.

The Mystery Doctrine and Practice - Why is it so Important

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes(rulers) of this world, that come to nought:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:8 Which none of the princes(rulers) of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I Corinthians 2:7-8

None of us are perfect, so we can get confused when we read a verse like this. The word 'perfect' in the above verse refers to those who have the complete, mature, and accurate understanding as to the purpose and reality of the Messiah.  God had an intent and purpose for Jesus Christ. If we want to see the power of God we need to understand what God intended in Jesus Christ. In order to find it we need to look at the 'hidden wisdom'. 

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery(hidden secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (mature) in Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:26-28

Knowledge alone does not mature us.  It is when we utilize knowledge with strong humility that spurs our growth.  Jesus Christ's purpose is to expose darkness and where it lurks. We are able to overcome the earthy and devilish wisdom of the world through Christ in us.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:27

We are all 'essential' workers in the congregation of Christ. There is no spiritual elite because we all have the gift of holy spirit with which to fan our great individual potential. In I Corinthians 12:27ff, God  through Paul, reveals the imagery of the human body as it relates to the body of Christ working together. It is a beautiful analogy and tells us uniquely how we relate to one another. We each have the confidence and assurance to do our part and not infringe on someone else's part. The hand cannot function without the shoulder and the elbow, but at the same time, the shoulder cannot perform the same function as the hand. All the parts of the body need each other, yet every part of the body of Christ has Christ as its head. So many parts operating in sync with the head is unbeatable. Jesus told his disciples that they would do greater works than he because he needed to go to the Father. God has granted him the authority to direct the church an he does that through the spirit.

We do not have an absent Christ. He is connected to us. Is that so outlandish? Thirty Years ago, did we think we could talk face to face with each other?  Today even though I might be 1000 miles away from my kids and grandkids, I can be present with them via Facetime. It is nothing for God to utilize the communication lines of holy spirit to keep us all tied together. When you login, the password is prayer.

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us (other people with the same communication lines): and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3

That is powerful! Think about what we have access to! On the internet we have access to some really great human references, human experts, resource books, data, interviews and videos on any topic. We have a stronger, more powerful connection with God and we don't have to deal with the junk and darkness that the internet is filled with. (Analogies can just go so far). God's wisdom is pure wisdom with not even a hint of darkness.

One of my favorite records is in the book of Numbers. Gold gave instructions to Moses:

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. Numbers 11:16-17

This is from the Old Testament before Christ's time.  Spirit was upon certain men. Joshua noticed two people operating the spirit of God outside the camp and went and told Moses. Mose's response?:

29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Here is a beautiful hint of God's desire which came to pass starting on the day of Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Pentecost was the birth of the church that is the led by Jesus Christ.  On the day of Pentecost God's heart's desire was fulfilled. We celebrate it this coming Sunday. Happy Birthday to the Church! Let the candles blaze! What a great time to focus on that gift of God's Spirit and exchange its presence with each other.

    

Sinner's Prayer?

During the current crisis which is worldwide,  people are experiencing amplified feelings of fear, isolation, vulnerability, and loss of control. People have varying ways of dealing with what is going on. Some turn to science, officials, news, drugs, alcohol, religion and chocolate.  Many people during times like these, want to ask questions of and about God.

There are many ministers on TV in ads calling people to confess their sins and come to God.  I think this really misrepresents the heart of God. Repentance involves a change of heart. It is the change of heart that God is interested in because the change in heart brings the best to an individual. We can see that as we read through chapter ten of the book of Romans. Sin does nothing but damage to our lives. I dare say God does not want to be reminded of our sins.  He wants our hearts restored and drawn to him. God wants us to live above the trauma and drama of the world. Somehow some designers of world religious practices sadly don't really understand it.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Roman 10:1-2

The  Hebrew religion, around the time leading up to the book of Romans, was immersed in the laws and guidelines of tradition. Their religious practices were going overboard to prove their own righteousness.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

We see a similar practice going on today with the current crisis situation.  For example, there are actually lawgivers who are regulating that only two people of the same household should be in a boat when fishing on a lake to prevent a virus spread. There have been sound guidelines given but some regulations are way over the top. The Bible itself has guidelines that are reasonable and right. There are admonitions actually in Deuteronomy 14:12-20 and Leviticus 11:13-19 not to touch or eat bats. The word of God includes epidemiological education but Mosaic religious law and practice got more rigorous and restricting as man extended God's word with Hebrew traditions as time went on. Man always seems to get carried away with the dits and dots of regulatory boundaries. It is probably about man's lust for control. Listening to God is not about control.

The Hebrews of Paul's time had incredible laws of minute regulation that burdened and dampened those who had a zeal for God. This kind of righteousness is what nobody needs! True freedom is founded in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ showed and continues to show us the heart of believing God:

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Righteousness is a heart thing. We don't have to confess anything except what God did for us through his son Jesus Christ:

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (wholeness). Romans 10:9-10

Why Division?

Recently I read an article regarding love and hate.  It was written by a blogger who is also a  journalist. The beginning of the article sounded great because it addressed the hate mongering and division that is going on all over social media. As I got deeper and deeper into the article, the goal of the article turned out hugely deceptive.  The article could not hide how the author really thinks and I was struck by his logic, deception and hate-mongering that he just quite couldn't hide.

There is a huge fight going on for the soul of America (actually it is nothing new). What has caused this dark divide in our culture? As I said, it has been going on for quite a while, and there are many manifestations now visible as people have made 'snark' the ultimate tool of what they call truth.

The question of what is at the bottom of all this divide actually is truth. There is truth and non-truth  and they are at odds with each other. There is only one body of truth and that lies at the feet of Almighty God, the creator of the universe.  God is love that is so simple and obvious when we just look around us and see the wonderful blessings that God has provided for us. I have mentioned this over and over in my blog maybe because it is an extension of my thankfulness for all God has done for us just in the creation alone.

My most recent excursion in this topic has been in to the realm of immunology. God has designed and given us such resources in how he designed the human body. Our immune system is just one of them. Even with the abuse that man puts the body through, there are layers and layers of built -in resources to help us out from external attack. It is amazing!!

The truth is God loves us.  He even gave his Son for the very purpose of lifting the guilt, shame and fear off our hearts so that we can live without being burdened down with oppressive mental weight. Guilt, shame and oppression are at the root of what divides us. How we feel about ourselves will determine how we love. Untruth believes in its own love. Therein lies the divide. God defines love, our works don't however wonderful they are.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Love has a long fuse , and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 love never faileth: I Corinthians13:1-8a KJV modified

There is a reason why this thirteenth chapter in Corinthians is sandwiched between chapters twelve and fourteen Together they teach about the gift of holy spirit that we have and can utilize. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts throughout our spirit and it is something that cannot be hidden from view when we let it shine. Allowing God to work in us changes us from noisy gongs to rich melodies resounding throughout our world.