Is it true?

 

Delirious? – History Maker

 

When King Nebuchadnezzar holds a personal interview with three men who disobeyed the call to worship him, he starts with this one simple question – is it true? What a test for Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. They took a stand for God and now they were sticking to their stand in this interview. Remember how hard it was for Peter to take this same stand when he followed Jesus after His arrest. Unfortunately, he wilted and denied Jesus when asked, “Is it true?”

I have two very strong words that were given to me today. I pray that they will inspire you. Inspire you if you are standing and being asked the question – is it true? – and if you are trying to figure out should you stand at all, never mind it being true or not.

“If, standing before the heart-searching God at this time, you cannot say, ‘It is true,’ how should you act? If you cannot say that you take Christ’s cross, and are willing to follow him at all hazards, then hearken to me and learn the truth. Do not make a profession at all. Do not talk about baptism or the Lord’s Supper, nor of joining a church, nor of being a Christian; for if you do, you will lie against your own soul. If it be not true that you renounce the world’s idols, do not profess that it is so. It is unnecessary that a man should profess to be what he is not; it is a sin of supererogation, a superfluity of naughtiness. If you cannot be true to Christ, if your coward heart is recreant to your Lord, do not profess to be his disciple, I beseech you. He that is married to the world, or flinthearted, had better return to his house, for he is of no service in this war.” (Spurgeon)

 

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made–I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tame visions, worldly-talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labour with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He’ll have no problem recognizing me. My colours will be clear.

From “Words Aptly Spoken”, By Bob Moorehead.

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Do you feel besieged?

 

The book of Daniel is an awesome description of what a life of a disciple looks like. There are so many lessons here, but I decided to go with the very first verse and call it my first lesson.

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. – Daniel 1:1  ESV

The Babylonians create a frightening space where the enemies of God surround you – besieged. Even though I may not wander away from God, if I am with others who have, I will be caught in the siege as well. To be a follower of Jesus now means to follow Him in the presence of enemies.

Peter gets what this looks like too. He gave some great examples on how to handle suffering in our day to day lives. I love the fact that his example was Jesus.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. – 1 Peter 2:21-22  ESV

I think Jesus had to learn to discern God’s will and to learn obedience. He was quoted a few times saying, “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” Each day He was tempted in all points as I am. He chose everyday to humble Himself and suffer in the flesh (deny His self-will and the demands of sin), instead of giving in to sin. As a result of His incredible faithfulness to God, He committed no sin, there was no deceit, He never fell out of love, purity and goodness. This is my teacher, my example – for me to follow in His footsteps.

Peter has a special description of what the Church looks like. Church is an assembly of people who have been gathered out of darkness into the light of Jesus Christ. Church is a collective noun, a collection of smaller units such as the word “herd” or “flock” would mean to describe the gathering of certain cows or birds.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10  ESV

If this description describes me, I belong to a gathering of certain people – the Church – there I find strength when I find myself besieged.

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Coming back

 

Ben Cantelon – Coming Back

 

Have you ever met someone who was once a follower of Jesus and today is not?  It has to be one of the saddest experiences of my life. Once I saw them with joy, peace, confidence and strength and then to see them dejected, defeated, weak and alone. I think this must have happened in Jeremiah’s day when he saw the change taking place in Jerusalem.

How lonely sits the city
that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become,
she who was great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
has become a slave. –  Lamentations 1:1  ESV

Pride is usually our kryptonite. The fall is one we cannot refrain from, it is one of the spiritual laws that exist.

The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,[b]
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?” – Obadiah 1:3  ESV

I do not look and have pity, I am engaged to bring my lost brother back to following Jesus. It is a hard task, one filled with prayer and humility. It is a miracle when it happens and I am thrilled to see miracles like these happen in my lifetime.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19-20  ESV

There are some verses in the Bible that say just how hard it is to come back to serving God once one has made the decision to leave. I love that James encourages us to believe in miracles and the promises that come with caring for the lost.

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Humility

 

Submit Yourselves Therefore to God

 

How many times I have read the history of Israel and wondered how they could have missed it. How many times they heard absolute clear instructions from God and decided to rather go the other way. Here is such an account I read today.

 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah.  But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven—  the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; also Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.  And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes. – Jeremiah 43:4-7  ESV

It kind of reminds me of some of James Dobson’s materials on how to raise children. I wonder how much attitude plays a role in how I engage sin. I am learning more and more these days that humility, the actual act of humbling myself, has really helped me avoid such obvious rebellion to God’s Word.

 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. – James 4:6-10  ESV

 

 

 

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The law revives my soul

 

You Restore My Soul (feat. Lauren Harris)

 

[I am not too sure how many listen to the song above that I try to find with each post that I write, but may I suggest today that you do. The words of worship healed my soul as I listened and worshipped with Lauren.]

The law revives my soul by bringing it into harmony with what God is doing.

The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple. – Psalm 19:7  ESV

Personally, my life is divided by all the conflicts in my life and through the healing of my soul, I find that my own will is revived.  Having a conflicted will is one of the most common features of our lives and those around us, but as my soul is revived, I am no longer defeated by the habits of my will. I am focused on God.

I need to study how this reflects on the Great Commission. Christ gives the Church the task to disciple nations and that includes teaching nations to obey “all that I have commanded.” “The law of the Lord” is to the Old Testament what the “all I have commanded” is to the New Testament. The outcome of my study, I believe, is that I will begin to understand that this is comprehensive and defines the circle of God’s order.

 

 

 

 

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