Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Right or Wrong??????
1 John 1:5-2:2
Over the next several days I'm going to read through first, second, and third John.
What an amazing passage today. John gives us this picture that says that if you are affiliated with the light how can we continue to practice in spiritual darkness.
1 John 1:6&7(NLT)--"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."
It's very funny that in a world where we continue to push the limits on everything, John is very clear on his message that there is definitely a right and a wrong. John says that we cannot continue to practice spiritual darkness and claim to walk in the light it just cannot be. The disheartening part of this passage is verse 10--"If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." You and I already knew that we were guilty of sin or at least I hope that you did. John makes it very clear that (Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.") The great part is 1 John 2:2--"He himself (Jesus) is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." What a powerful message to realize that we have fallen short of God but that because of Jesus you and I are able to walk into the light with confidence. I'm joyful because I can read this next verse that I'm going to share with you but that this is also my thankful prayer to God today.
Romans 5:21--"So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Over the next several days I'm going to read through first, second, and third John.
What an amazing passage today. John gives us this picture that says that if you are affiliated with the light how can we continue to practice in spiritual darkness.
1 John 1:6&7(NLT)--"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."
It's very funny that in a world where we continue to push the limits on everything, John is very clear on his message that there is definitely a right and a wrong. John says that we cannot continue to practice spiritual darkness and claim to walk in the light it just cannot be. The disheartening part of this passage is verse 10--"If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." You and I already knew that we were guilty of sin or at least I hope that you did. John makes it very clear that (Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.") The great part is 1 John 2:2--"He himself (Jesus) is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world." What a powerful message to realize that we have fallen short of God but that because of Jesus you and I are able to walk into the light with confidence. I'm joyful because I can read this next verse that I'm going to share with you but that this is also my thankful prayer to God today.
Romans 5:21--"So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Freedom to Worship
Okay, I know it's been a long time since I was able to update this but I sent the kids back to school today and have a little extra free time to keep up with this, so I hope that you will begin to read, enjoy, and be challenged. I will start making videos again tomorrow but today you will actually have to read, I know this is disappointing but stick with me I will make it easier.
I have been reading a lot of stuff from "The Voice of the Martyrs" website and their magazine. I must say that it has had a tremendous impact on me to this point. This month they are featuring an article "CHINA: Can't Block the TRUTH" by Dr. Tom White. He goes through to explain how some of the Christians were meeting in homes and the Public Security Bureau (who is in charge of making sure there is no christian worship) found a home where Christians were gathered and worshiping. Dr. Tom White notes that usually they are not able to report stuff like this but the Chinese government was more than happy to post on their government website that they had found these worshipers and arrested the two people who lived at the house along with destroying all of the literature that had to do with Christ.
I wish that I could post the picture that was in the magazine but it is not online and I don't have a scanner, but let me try to explain it for you. Five Chinese people have escaped away into the country side dug a pit that is ankle deep and brought water in to fill the trench in order to baptize a young lady.
My first thought is it's amazing to see the lengths people go to in oppressed nation to be baptized, and in America? People will argue about the necessity of baptism.
My second thought is we Americans take our freedom way to lightly. We don't have to sneak around from house to house to worship, we have the freedom to worship any day and any time we want to, without the fear of being arrested and killed for our faith. Yet on any given Sunday there are always seats empty while others are literally dieing to hear the same message that some of us decided that we didn't need to hear this week because something more important was going on.
Sorry, I will get off my soap box. Reading some of this stuff has really given me a whole new perspective. Maybe today thank God for the freedom you have to worship and ask forgiveness for the wasted opportunities that you have let pass by, it was a huge eye opener to ME!!
I have been reading a lot of stuff from "The Voice of the Martyrs" website and their magazine. I must say that it has had a tremendous impact on me to this point. This month they are featuring an article "CHINA: Can't Block the TRUTH" by Dr. Tom White. He goes through to explain how some of the Christians were meeting in homes and the Public Security Bureau (who is in charge of making sure there is no christian worship) found a home where Christians were gathered and worshiping. Dr. Tom White notes that usually they are not able to report stuff like this but the Chinese government was more than happy to post on their government website that they had found these worshipers and arrested the two people who lived at the house along with destroying all of the literature that had to do with Christ.
I wish that I could post the picture that was in the magazine but it is not online and I don't have a scanner, but let me try to explain it for you. Five Chinese people have escaped away into the country side dug a pit that is ankle deep and brought water in to fill the trench in order to baptize a young lady.
My first thought is it's amazing to see the lengths people go to in oppressed nation to be baptized, and in America? People will argue about the necessity of baptism.
My second thought is we Americans take our freedom way to lightly. We don't have to sneak around from house to house to worship, we have the freedom to worship any day and any time we want to, without the fear of being arrested and killed for our faith. Yet on any given Sunday there are always seats empty while others are literally dieing to hear the same message that some of us decided that we didn't need to hear this week because something more important was going on.
Sorry, I will get off my soap box. Reading some of this stuff has really given me a whole new perspective. Maybe today thank God for the freedom you have to worship and ask forgiveness for the wasted opportunities that you have let pass by, it was a huge eye opener to ME!!
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