Reading "my upmost for His highest" today, December 2, I was really impacted. How many times have I prayed, "Lord, use me for your Glory." When I say this I often am concentrating on the "use me" not "your Glory".
I want people that cross my path to walk away with a desire to know God better.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Luke 14:27
Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.
Maybe its because the only images I have of crucifixions are those dramatizations of Yeshua's but I always took it for granted that someone sentenced to die by this form would carry the instrument of their death without protest. But I just realized that many if not most would kick, scream and stall. In that context this verse convicts me to be more like Yeshua when I face persecution for being His talmid. I want more than anything to be His talmid and to hear "well-done, good and faithful servant" at the end of the race.
Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.
Maybe its because the only images I have of crucifixions are those dramatizations of Yeshua's but I always took it for granted that someone sentenced to die by this form would carry the instrument of their death without protest. But I just realized that many if not most would kick, scream and stall. In that context this verse convicts me to be more like Yeshua when I face persecution for being His talmid. I want more than anything to be His talmid and to hear "well-done, good and faithful servant" at the end of the race.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Suffering as a Revealing Fire
Suffering also is a purifying fire that reveals character. When things don't go our way not when all lights are green our character is revealed. What would you think about a crime scene investigator that found chemical evidence that could possibly implicate someone he loved in a crime; so, he decided not to bring that chemical to the laboratory where it would be put to the test by fire. That investigator would not be honest and he would be guilty of obstructing justice. 
God is just. He will not sweep the truth of our sinful nature under the rug; however, God is also Love. In God "mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed." (Psalm 85:10) How can we plead for mercy and be pardoned if our sin isn't revealed by testing? So God loves us by revealing our inequity to us in suffering before the judgement day. God is giving us the opportunity to repent. He is a fireman that screams at a man that fell asleep smoking waking him up from a beautiful dream to save him from the raging fire burning around his bed.
photo by gasi from flickr (creative commons)
God is just. He will not sweep the truth of our sinful nature under the rug; however, God is also Love. In God "mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed." (Psalm 85:10) How can we plead for mercy and be pardoned if our sin isn't revealed by testing? So God loves us by revealing our inequity to us in suffering before the judgement day. God is giving us the opportunity to repent. He is a fireman that screams at a man that fell asleep smoking waking him up from a beautiful dream to save him from the raging fire burning around his bed.photo by gasi from flickr (creative commons)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)