Blessing and Cursing

We are blessed....

"And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" (Gen.26:4)

....because He was cursed

"And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." (Deut. 21:22-23)

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13-14)



"Christ died, not for one sinner, but tens of thousands, for multitudes whom no man can number. Think, then, what must have been the crushing blows which Jehovah laid on him when those strokes were inflicted to satisfy divine justice for the sins, the crimes, the transgressions of ten thousand times ten thousand of those for whom he died." (C.H. Spurgeon)

"Oh, down, down, down with everything else, but up, up, up with the cross of Christ! Down with your baptism and your masses and your sacraments! Down with your priestcraft and your rituals and your liturgies! Down with your fine music and your pomp and your robes and your garments and all your ceremonials. But up, up, up with the doctrine of the naked cross and the expiring Savior!" (C.H. Spurgeon)

Signs of Conformity

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26)

Why is there so little Christian persecution in America?

Yes, I know there are verbal and print attacks from time to time. What I am speaking of is an anger and hatred that mirrors what the early church in Biblical times and afterwards suffered.
Could the reason be in our own willingness to stay in "our place" and remain in our religious comfort zone?
Or, could it be that we have, in large part, strayed from the "whole council of God" and replaced it with that which is more suited to our own Americanized tastes?
Do the lives of most professed Christians demonstrate a "newness of life", a radical transformation?
Where, for the most part, is practical Godliness?

Considering the present state of our nation and her churches, how can there be agreement between them and Biblical Christianity?

Would not one expect that this strong disagreement would produce hostility in those who are still at war with God?

Have we conformed, in many ways, without realizing it? Or, do we realize more than we are willing to admit?

A question I must certainly answer!


"when the cross is abolished, and the rage of tyrants and heretics ceases on the one side, and all things are in peace, this is a sure token that the pure doctrine of God's Word is taken away." (Martin Luther)

"Go to the Ant"

Today I took Solomon's advice and considered the Ant. While on a walk in the woods I came upon a large fire ant mound, a mound that was probably at least 2 feet in diameter. Noticing a flurry of movement on the surface of the mound, I stooped (at a safe distance) to take a closer look. Ants were everywhere, going in differant directions in what seemed like mass confusion. But, on closer examination it was evident that I was not beholding a scene of disorder but instead a scene of orderly construction.
As I continued to observe (still hoping that they were not ranging out far enough to give me a first hand experience of how they got their name) I saw the common aim in all this activity. They were leaving the mound and gathering cedar needles and other small pieces of plant material that had fallen on the surrounding ground. They then proceeded to carry these pieces back to the mound, to some specific place such as a small hole or low spot and they then placed it in this depression so as to fill it in.
In this process I noticed the ants bumping into each other and on occasion they would momentarily block one anothers progress by crashing into each others load.
Yet, in all this, they didn't drop their load to fight or argue with the other ant that had hindered them, instead they tenaciously held on to their piece of needle and marched toward the desired goal.
I noted that sometimes if a piece was too large for one ant that two would labor together at the task to move it into place in this massive building project.
I saw no envy when one ant passed another which was carrying a bigger piece of needle. I saw no disdain for one ant by another if the other was carrying a smaller piece.
I simply saw this, a multitude of ants working toward the same goal, which was, building and strengthening the mound.
I was reminded of some things as I stooped in God's classroom of nature. First, I thought of the differances between ants and humanity. We have a great work that has been given us by God and yet our self-centered ways take the preeminate place in our lives. We lose sight of the real reason that we are here.
Second, I began to recall some verses of scripture that speak to the fact that God truly does have a time for all things and part of that time is a time for doing His work.

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"(Eccl.3:1)

"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:" (Mat. 28:19)

"I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise." (Rom 1:14)

What if Christians were like ants in this great work of the Lord?

Do we know what time it is?

There is a Saviour and an Empty Tomb!

THE SAVIOUR

"THOU GOD OF ALL GRACE,

Thou hast given me a Saviour,
produce in me a faith to live by him,
to make him all my desire,
all my hope,
all my glory.
May I enter him as my refuge,
build on him as my foundation,
walk in him as my way,
follow him as my guide,
conform to him as my example,
receive his instructions as my prophet,
rely on his intercession as my high priest,
obey him as my king.
May I never be ashamed of him or his words,
but joyfully bear his reproach,
never displease him by unholy or imprudent conduct,
never count it a glory if I take it patiently
when buffeted for a fault,
never make the multitude my model,
never delay when thy word invites me to advance.
May the dear Son preserve me from this present
evil world,
so that its smiles never allure,
nor its frowns terrify,
nor its vices defile,
nor its errors delude me.
May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim
on earth,
declaring plainly that I seek a country,
my title to it becoming daily more clear,
my meetness for it more perfect,
my foretastes of it more abundant;
and whatsoever I do may it be done
in the Saviour's name."

(from "The Valley of Vision")

I was once again am challenged by the desires expressed in this prayer. I see afresh that true, vital Christianity has Christ as its source and Christ as its goal. He is our life and reason for living. He is our strength for fighting the good fight of faith! I pray that I would walk worthy of the vocation to which I am called and never bring reproach on the name of Christ.

"The Delectable Mountains"

"They went then till they came to the Delectable Mountains; which mountains belong to the Lord of that Hill, of which we have spoken before; so they went up to the mountains, to behold the Gardens and Orchards, the Vineyards, and Fountains of water; where also they drank and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the vineyards. Now there was on the tops of those mountains, Shepherds feeding their Flocks, and they stood by the highway side. The Pilgrims therefore went to them, leaning upon their staves, (as is common with weary pilgrims, when they stand to talk with any by the way) they asked, Whose Delectable Mountains are these? And whose be the Sheep that feed upon them?

Shepherd. These mountains are Emmanuel's Land, and they are within sight of his City; and the Sheep also are his, and he laid down his Life for them.

Christian. Is this the way to the Celestial City?

Shepherd. You are just in your Way.

Christian. How far is it thither?

Shepherd. Too far for any, but those that shall get thither indeed.

Christian. Is the Way safe or dangerous?

Shepherd. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe, but transgressors shall fall therein.

Christian. Is there in this place any Relief, for Pilgrims that are weary, and faint in the Way?

Shepherd. The Lord of these mountains hath given us Charge not to be forgetful to entertain stangers, therefore the Good of the place is even before you.

I saw also in my dream, That when the Shepherds perceived they were Way-faring men, they also put questions to them, (to which they made answer as in other places) as, Whence came you? And how got you into the Way? And by what Means have you so persevered therein? For, but few of them that begin to come hither, do shew their face on these mountains. But when the Shepherds heard their answers, being pleased therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, Welcome to the Delectable Mountains."

(excerpt from "The Pilgrims Progress")

The Father's Shepherd

Some wonderful words from the prophets and the lips of Jesus concerning our great "seeking" God who knoweth His own and draws them to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls so that there may be one fold and one Shepherd.

"Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold it is I." (Isa.52:6)

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
(John 10:14)

"The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him." (Isa.56:8)

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
(John 10:16)

He is not "trying" to bring this gathering to pass, it "shall" be done!

The Atonement

"If our Lord's bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach. Brethren, I have befooled you these thirty-five years if this is not the gospel. I am a lost man, if this is not the gospel, for I have no hope beneath the canopy of heaven, neither in time nor in eternity, save only in this belief--that Jesus Christ, in my place, bore both my punishment and sin."

(C.H. Spurgeon)

"Precious in the Eyes of the Lord"

(An account from Dr. A.T. Pierson concerning the graveside service of C.H. Spurgeon)

"While we gathered around the grave, a little patch of blue sky appeared, just over our heads, as if to remind us of the glory-land above; and while Mr. Brown was speaking, a dove flew from the direction of the Tabernacle toward the tomb, and, wheeling in its flight over the crowd, almost seemed to pause. In ancient days, it would have been an augury: to us, it spoke only peace. As the service proceeded, a little robin poured forth its liquid note all the while from a neighbouring tombstone; the redbreast made appropriate music, fabled as it was to have had its crimson coat ever since it picked a thorn from the Saviour's bleeding brow. Well, we do not believe that; but we believe what we sang at the grave, the truth that Mr. Spurgeon lived to preach, and died to defend,-

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more"

How beautiful heaven must be! Truly, the home of the happy and free!

"Holy Bible, Book Divine"

"For nearly half a century have I anxiously and critically studied that invaluable treasure [the Bible];and I still scarcely ever take it up that I do not find something new - that I do not receive some valuable addition to my stock of knowledge or perceive some instructive fact never observed before.
In short, were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive both to the wise and ignorant.
Were you to ask me for one affording the most rational and pleasing entertainment to the inquiring mind, I should repeat, it is the Bible; and should you renew the inquiry for the best philosophy or the most interesting history, I should still urge you to look into your Bible. I would make it, in short, the Alpha and Omega of knowledge.

"(Elias Boudinot, President of Congress, Framer of the Bill of Rights)

" Old Recipes"

Must be making something from "scratch"!

Lovers of Truth

I came across this quote today by Martin Luther: "In the world, truth causes hatred; he is accounted an enemy who speaks the truth. But among friends, this is not so; much less among Christians."

Is this not the dividing line between the fallen world and the Spirit born believer?

"For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:20-21)

How wonderful to behold a people that desire truth in the inward parts!

"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth."
(Psa.26:2-3)

How wonderful to be among Christians! A people that can speak the truth to one another freely, whether in encouragement or in correction.

"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." (Rom.15:14)

How refreshing to enjoy fellowship with the people of the way, the truth, and the life!

"In Like a Lion"

Tennessee or Maine?

 

 

 

 

Must be that pesky global warming!!