I would love to sing uplifting, encouraging music about our dedication and sacrifice for each other, forgetting ourselves for the benefit of our love for Christ.  However, to do so I would have to overlook a generally indifferent, self-concerned, non committal, lethargic at best group of believers awaiting harvest.  It is not sufficient for me to point my finger at others performance, comparing and declaring it lackluster when held in comparison to my own.  We all must turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings, just as Romans 1 declares that unbelievers will do when ignoring the truth of God.  Shall we compile and construct a house of cards, erected with the delusions and self-fulfilling deceptions we have orchestrated so that we may exonerate, justify or explain away our own unwillingness to disciple, feed or help the poor, fatherless and ill?  Can we honestly say that we are doing what Christ asked of us, nay commanded us?  I must say that I have and continue to fall way short of even the minimal mark.

What would Jeremiah say to and about our beloved nation?  Would he commend us for our generosity, our vigor for life, our commitment to fostering the next new technology?  What would he say after having attended a service full of joyous believers, dancing from the catharsis provided by the ear splitting rock-like worship music.  Would he applaud our palsied attempts at supporting orphans, widows, the homeless, imprisoned or gravely ill.  Would he see us volunteering at hospice, hospitals, orphanages, widow’s homes or down at the soup kitchen nightly sharing the gospel with those to be fed?  Would he be surprised at the millions of dollars spent upon air conditioned churches, with expensive carpeting, exercise facilities and child care wings rivaling the local elementary schools?  Would he condone and support the sales of DVD, CD’s, Pictures, books and memorabilia in the atrium of our churches or like Christ over turn some tables?  What would he say to our leadership, considering themselves saviors of our society, thinking themselves knights of the modern age?  Or would he declare us in danger of judgment, warning us to repent as a nation and be saved or face the coming wrath of Almighty God?  For that matter what would any of God’s prophets say to us as American’s after viewing our daily behavior and rituals?  If this doesn’t stand the hair up on your neck regarding a resounding fear of the Lord, then you should be very afraid for you are either too arrogant to see or have been turned over to your own decadence long ago.

The Lord’s Word says what it says for entirely understandable reasons, as this world was created by God not any one or group of us.  It is His plan, His world, His created beings and those who have been saved owe a special allegiance to Him for having been provided a method by which to be cleansed of sin and escape deserved and certain judgment.  That is not to say that there is a payment due beyond belief, but it ought to cause a change in people’s hearts, knowing that God cared that much to sacrifice Himself for our redemption.  In fact there all other ideals in this lifetime pale in comparison.  We must wake up or risk the slumber of an unconscious and lost generation of worldly Christians, having forgotten diligence, having forgotten the great commission, having determined that everything else in life is more important then the work God has given us.

The central point of indecision, confusion and argument surrounds the inability, unwillingness or conversely the acceptance of the fact that Jesus is God.  You see if He was just a man, as the secularists would have Him portrayed, then we may dismiss His commands, direction, correction and Prophetic Word as simply the uncannily wise recommendations of a theorist.  Or if He is merely portrayed as the Son of God, as many revisionist religions teach, then He may be included in the segment of “many” saints or prophets sent to demonstrate God’s efforts to convince man of His Sovereignty.  Accepting Him as God requires a complete transformation of our path through this life.  You see, when God came to Earth, as a man, born of a virgin, He committed the ultimate sacrifice for His creation, while showing them how to overcome sin, death and tragedies past mistake.  God revealed Himself for man’s edification, familiarity and hope.  God showed us through example how we are redeemed to relationship with Him and the “only” way to prepare ourselves for an afterlife spent with a Holy, Righteous, Sovereign and Loving, God.  Only in understanding that Jesus said clearly that He is God, brings to light the anger with which He was received by a hypocritical clergy and the righteous wrath with which all men will confront if they do not accept His Truth.  For since He is God, He may not be ignored, making His call to repentance and belief a necessity for eternity, rather than just a recommendation of simply one more man in the midst of man’s historical philosophers.

Further complications associated with misunderstanding God’s Triune nature may be avoided by accepting that not only is Jesus, God but the Holy Spirit is also God.  This complexity baffles humanity allowing argumentalists to insert this misunderstanding as proof of Christian foolishness.  Let us not look to strengthen their quest by accepting their bait and involving ourselves in a mobius argument, fulfilling their desire to obfuscate the issue at true consideration.  For none of us may effectively comprehend God’s complexity for we are just men.  Faith is born in the acceptance of what God says as Truth.  When we accept that old testament prophecy said that God would come, then Jesus came, born of a virgin fulfilling those prophecies, we are then confronted by the absolute truth that we must choose to either obey, follow and believe or deny, disobey and turn away from salvation and relationship.  Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God, because He is God.  Therefore, everything He told us which must be done was explained to us, by God, declaring it unavoidable in man’s quest to find, know and be with God.  This also raises the soul shaking principle that we may not ignore the Holy Spirit’s conviction, correction and guidance in this worldly existence because we are then once again disobeying and dare I boldly postulate, perhaps blaspheming, God Himself?

Search the scripture.  Analyze it as Jesus told us to do.  Don’t just go get a book on the regurgitated perspective of some notable religious scholar.  Read what God said about His nature.  Read the first few paragraphs of the Old Testament and you will see that the Father, God, the Spirit, God and the Word (Jesus), God were present at the founding of the world. Read Jesus’ Revelation and find that at the end we will reside with the Father, Son and Spirit, just as the Bible began it continues past the remaking of this world.  Do not fall for misdirection thrown out there as bait to lure you away from the central question.

Will we accept the Word of God as truth, committing ourselves to repentance, belief and reliance upon Jesus or will we be led astray by whatever convenient distraction the enemies of God utilize to keep us from making the only necessary decision that must be made in the timeline of our mortality?  Jesus is alive awaiting our arrival through acceptance of the path He provided for us to be redeemed to God’s Grace.  That central concept becomes acceptable, understandable and viable only by faith in the truth of His Word.  That is why as the Bible states, in Hebrews 11:6, “without faith it is impossible to please God”.  For since, we are incapable of fully comprehending God’s complexity, we are left with the choice of either accepting His truth as fact through faith or denying it wholly/partially in and endless discussion that shall never be resolved in this life.  Do not take the devil’s bait of deception and endless argument, simply believe that Jesus is God and uncannily all falls right into place.  Peace and God’s Grace to you this day that we have been given.  Keep your eyes elevated to heaven.  For in focus upon Him all truth is revealed and all deception eliminated.  Praise God in His Sovereign, Divine and Infinite nature, in the name of Jesus Christ the King of Everything.

Peace, for us is evidence of the presence of God.  Not a peace, that idyllically calls men to tolerate one another in our obeisances, addiction and oddity of taste.  A peace suggesting that someone out there is praying for you, namely Jesus Himself.  What is the nature of a man who can walk calmly in the raging nightmare?  Is this courage, some possession of understanding built upon tragic experiences overcome in past days?  Why now Lord when there is so much to be said, would You counsel me to peace, quiet and brokered silence?  I am once again being called to dependence upon the works of Almighty God, reliance upon His outcome, His effort, His decision and undertakings.  This quiet tames my heart delivering me from critique, accusation and strangely frees me of concern.

There is so much to say to you, about love, the love I have for you, this magical person that was gifted me by God.  Don’t fret, breathe deeply, find a courage that was planted in your spirit by God Himself.  He will never fail you.  Please make note of the discouraging things shouted at you, wanting your paralysis, but do not heed them, for you know truth.  Set a pace that allows you to quickly be still when the Spirit guides.  Soak in the Glory of each moment knowing that it is provision of a Sovereign Father.  Step lightly, with peace, alacrity and purpose, knowing that God will show up at exactly the right time, with the right amount of wind, purpose, support, provision and love.  Jesus, sits at the right hand of God watching everything that transpires, knowing every thing you’ve done or will ever do, never wavering for a millisecond in His love for you.  You have been forgiven, be at peace, stand in courage and know that the Lord is Your God.

What shall I say to my Lord, who in His infinite wisdom has not yet made the necessary changes in my own attitude, character and behaviors to remake me in His image?  Shall I be upset, frustrated and interrogative or remain patient, knowing fully that this is indication of His sovereignty and timing?  I must admit, after making the same mistakes repeatedly, for what seems to be a significant piece of my lifetime, I am oft too quick to question God.  My faith is the only avenue through which I may please God.  Remaining steadfast in my position, untenable as it may appear, provides the only evidence that I am in fact completely dependent upon God’s trans formative Hand to sanctify my soul.  I know my weakness, without Him, I will never grow and change to resemble Christ.  This fact is the only thought which keeps me on the road to patient understanding.

What then may I do with this set of continual and repeated failures or repetitive behaviors?  All I can do is repent and pray, because try as I might, these issues will not be removed through my own mastery or injection of superior self-help skills.  Father, the things that have happened have marred my memory, producing deep seated scars, wounds and memories that I fear are impossible for me to ever dissolve.  What anger I see in my life today remains from past wounds, for today I am not suffering the constant and necessary pressures that made of me an angry man.  What slander I speak, I learned, through emulation of an acidic culture, determined to minimize the import and perfection of each person to God.  What callous nature I possess, I was taught, as a reflection of helplessness and lack of control forced upon my predecessors.  I am by origin and nature a sinner, holding on to the original transgression, but this is not the sum total of my calamity.  I have also been spotted by the brutal, divisive and pejorative nature of this fallen world.  Praise be to God that He sees me cleansed, for though I feel polluted, He only sees Christ’s Perfect Spirit covering my impurity and unrighteousness.  But I pray, wait and seek sanctification, so that I may be eternally free of my own poisonous past.

Lord God, free me of these remaining worldly characteristics.  Please let me be like Christ, no longer resorting to hurtful, dysfunctional or spiteful actions in order to control those around me.  I do not wish to be harsh, but gentile.  I do not wish to be violent but a peace maker.  I do not wish to sponsor sarcasm and slander, rather dispensing words of encouragement and hope.  Let me fill the sails of those who have been caught in continual doldrums.  Let me express love, the love You showed me, forgetting all their imperfections, gazing instead upon their majesty and importance in Your eyes.  Please let that old man and his fleshly tendencies to finally and completely perish.  Jesus my King, save me from my self and those things I have learned, seen and heard from a fallen world.

Do you believe to the point it forces you to act?  Do not hear my words and reflect upon their eloquence, sensitivity and representative kindness, look to my actions, when determining my character.  What am I doing to spread the Gospel?  What have I done to feed the Lord’s sheep?  To whom have I discipled, convincing, encouraging and supporting their edification by the Word of God, preparing them to prepare others?  What orphans have I comforted, widows have I supported, sickness have I tended to healing?  What sins have I repented, what changes have I undertaken through the Holy Spirit of God, what evidence of the fruits of the Spirit show clearly in my life, especially when I am unaware that others are looking?  How have I reached those who have become apathetic, unconvinced, callous to the hypocritical practices of church leaders intent upon putting butts in seats and paying large mortgages?  How have I deferred the blame placed upon God for the wrongs we as men have committed?  When have I stood for Jesus Christ, to the point where it cost me skin, money, station or reputation?  Would God be glorified by my life given as a Holy sacrifice for His Glory?  If not, why not?

There is only clarity, health and cleansing in the showering of Truth.  Nothing that is poisoned, filthy, deceptive or wicked may remain in the basking light of God’s sizzling Word.  Those that crawl and seek darkness for their festering reality shall never knowingly embrace the Light of Jesus.  We, therefore, must subject ourselves to this scrutiny, this cleansing Fire of Spirit, this life above reproach in order to truly represent God as ambassadors.  You say, “that is impossible”, “no one may live that way”.  I say to you, you are absolutely correct, with a caveat; there has only been one who lived that life, His name is Jesus.  We are called to emulate His majesty, purity, wisdom, care and glory.  Even though in your estimation this is beyond possibility, His Word also defeats that impossibility through Christ, “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me”.  Now do you see the objective of preachers calling you to victory?  We may stand in the Truth of God and observers, fulfilling the impossible, through indwelling and revision by the Works of HIS Spirit, for that which is impossible to us has already been proven possible through HIS life.  Stand in the Light, Be washed by the Word, Walk in the Spirit, have a character that is already beyond conviction.  Follow Jesus, let Him have the victory through living your life, as He readily gave His own for you.

Seeing beyond the lumber in my own eyes.  My view is skewed, fractured and diffracted by my own shortcomings.  How can I look upon myself in the way in which the Lord sees me?  Knowing I am sealed by the Holy Spirit of God Himself, saved by the Christ of God.  How would I be changed if I could see His righteousness lain upon me, covering my sin with a purity?  How then would I gaze upon you with eyes set for Glory, knowing your sanctification assured?  Lord, that I have the eyes to see beyond the dirt, mire and grime camouflaging the external vessel to see the flourishing soul within.  How then would my attitude be changed and my kindness altered to see Christ in those around me?  Do I have ears to hear the Word that the Lord has preached or will I remain focused on the siren call of discouragement, bidding me abide in this world and not in Christ?  How then may I begin to resemble Almighty God if I do not first look upon others in a gentler light?

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the Father.  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Galatians 4:1-7

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-25

The Spirit of the Son is in each of us, crying out to a Father from whom we had been estranged, lost, destitute, without hope or joy.  Hallelujah, it is Christ that saves each of us redeemed to God in kinship with the Lord.  We may now equally look upon those in Christ as Family, rejoicing in their individual walk toward eternity.  May we unite in our shared devotion to God, writing His commands upon our heart in tune with the Spirit living within each of us.  What then might we accomplish if we look upon each other in a new way, free from condemnation, reflection, refracted vision and criticism.  Renewed by the encouragement of our own hearts made new.  How then would I personally view defeat in its impossibility being so perfectly aligned with God, equally with Family in love, victory, hope and fulfillment?  How then would the definition of the impossible be forever transformed?

They would have me look to my failures as a measure of this life lived.  That is not how God looks upon each of us.  If He looks upon me, with perfect knowledge of every thought, every dance, every excess and victory and still loves me, then why should my failures matter one iota?  There are none that may proclaim themselves a more harsh critic of my performance than me.  Just as Paul lamented his continued sinning even when he knew the right thing to do, I cannot believe some times the thoughts and actions I still find myself undertaking.  Glory be to God that it is His prerogative to allow me into heaven, because if it were up to me I certainly would never be found worthy.  I am so sad for the failures that have caused harm to others or brought dishonor to God’s Holy Name.  For them I am truly sorry and ask God’s forgiveness.

I do not belong to this world, to the enemy or to false idols, I have been set apart for God by my belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God.  That does not allow me special exception to sin as I please, precisely the opposite, it means that I should know better having been freed by sacrifice.  It does however allow me some measure of confidence in the knowledge that God knows I am going to continue to sin and has provisioned Grace sufficient to cover my future sins.  I hope they are not as immeasurable as I’ve imagined them.  Can you imagine what it would be like to be saved by Grace and then be committed to living a life of perfection when all you’ve known in continual mess up?  Thank God He knows us better than we know ourselves and has provided His Holy Spirit as Counselor, Guide and Teacher to show us the way to sanctification and holiness.

The Lord has shown me that the price of my sensitivity is an open, tender and vulnerable heart.  Today I learned how cruel others may be when they feel the pressures to change and I am the obvious target of their rage as I seek to help them traverse the divide.  My tears are medals showing the price of my humanity, and the wounds I suffer now only bring me closer to the Almighty.  They do not know what they are doing, often they are defense mechanisms brought to bare from childhood to protect themselves from the brutal hazards of youth.  If I may navigate my way passed these defenses by help of the Holy Spirit then I may be granted the opportunity to plant a seed of God’s Loving and reviving Word.  Some times the battle is not simply fought for protection of the city it is undertaken for the sake of doing something right.  In my case I do not seek to drive back enemies but to win the right to plant crops for God’s Harvest.  Thank you for the work Father.  There is so much to be done, I pray for more workers for the harvest, dear, dear Lord.  In Jesus Name.