FLAVORING SWEETNESS, CLOTHED IN GRACE
Whenever I get to hear or read God’s word, it is like flavoring sweetness unto my soul. It brings joy and puts a smile on my face, because it is the real substance that will last forever and much better than candy. Sometimes, there are moments when we do need someone’s gracious gesture to pull us up from our problems and worries. I know that God uses believers to help other believers, but there have been in my life people who don’t necessarily agree with my beliefs – yet they are very gracious towards me. I’m thankful to the Lord for putting them in my path. I’ve learned not to judge them, but to love them.
In Genesis 3:21 we read that God made coats of skins to clothe Adam and Eve even after they had sinned. God was being gracious towards sinners. He did not abandon, them, but instead he cared for them by dressing them with coats from the blood of an innocent animal. This is parallel to the innocent blood that Jesus Christ shared for sinners so that we may be clothed in Christ’s righteousness. “For he hath made home be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21) We are clothed in his righteousness, because of his Grace and that is enough to make us joyful and show the world our clothing of grace.
Think about those who are kind towards you by saying something nice like “good morning”, or simply walking by and smiling at them. Let’s not hide our sweetness in the Lord, but respond back with a nice word or kind act whether it is a smile or even holding the door for someone feeble, or just sending a card of encouragement. I often remember my sister who is a special needs person, how she would always go to church with a quarter in her purse, because that was all she had to give. She would tell my mother she didn’t need anything else but twenty-five cents. In her eyes that was a lot and she would give it with joy. This was big in her mind and I’m sure the Lord saw it that way. Therefore, let us take what small act we can do and Glorify His Name!
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER
“My house will be called a house of prayer, ‘but you are making it a den of robbers.’”
(Matthew 21:13)
When Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem he drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves. (Matthew 21:12) Jesus was so indignant about the way the temple was being used that his actions led him to rebuke and drive out those using the house of God for their selfish ambitions. This display of disrespect and dishonor to our Lord in his church is sinful and has continued throughout centuries. For example, Antiochus IV (175-163 B.C.) a Syrian ruler committed to Hellenism used the temple funds for his own demise and ordered the erection of a statue of Olympian Zeus in the temple and even had a sow sacrificed on the sacred altar. The Roman Senator Caligula demanded worship of himself as deity and instructed his representative in Syria to erect his statue in the Jerusalem temple. All these were actions taken by men in favor of pleasing themselves with disregard to God’s holiness and his house of worship.
I would like to think that in the 21st century such acts would have been banned or condemned by most Christians. But seeing how complacency and self-indulgence seem to be endured in our society, I can only conclude that we are closer to the end times. Men’s heart is open to selfish ambitions then pleasing God. It says: “because of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” Matthew 24:12
Recently I watched on television a religious annual event, that is, a numbers of animals being taken to the Catholic Church and priests performing blessings on these animals. My friend, do not be deceived. The Bible does not recognize such acts as being acceptable in God’s eyes? In the Old Testament animals were used for specific purposes such as sacrificial offerings, bartering, for substance or safekeeping. God’s house has always been a house for worship and prayer. It is never mentioned in the bible that animals were to be blessed but only people and children (Mark 3:10; 10: 14-16).
My friends, let us be girded with the truth of the word, so that when we see all manner of deceit and evil taking place, we will be full of the holy spirit to be able to discern good from wrong. God’s word says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (v.4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
(Matthew 21:13)
When Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem he drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves. (Matthew 21:12) Jesus was so indignant about the way the temple was being used that his actions led him to rebuke and drive out those using the house of God for their selfish ambitions. This display of disrespect and dishonor to our Lord in his church is sinful and has continued throughout centuries. For example, Antiochus IV (175-163 B.C.) a Syrian ruler committed to Hellenism used the temple funds for his own demise and ordered the erection of a statue of Olympian Zeus in the temple and even had a sow sacrificed on the sacred altar. The Roman Senator Caligula demanded worship of himself as deity and instructed his representative in Syria to erect his statue in the Jerusalem temple. All these were actions taken by men in favor of pleasing themselves with disregard to God’s holiness and his house of worship.
I would like to think that in the 21st century such acts would have been banned or condemned by most Christians. But seeing how complacency and self-indulgence seem to be endured in our society, I can only conclude that we are closer to the end times. Men’s heart is open to selfish ambitions then pleasing God. It says: “because of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” Matthew 24:12
Recently I watched on television a religious annual event, that is, a numbers of animals being taken to the Catholic Church and priests performing blessings on these animals. My friend, do not be deceived. The Bible does not recognize such acts as being acceptable in God’s eyes? In the Old Testament animals were used for specific purposes such as sacrificial offerings, bartering, for substance or safekeeping. God’s house has always been a house for worship and prayer. It is never mentioned in the bible that animals were to be blessed but only people and children (Mark 3:10; 10: 14-16).
My friends, let us be girded with the truth of the word, so that when we see all manner of deceit and evil taking place, we will be full of the holy spirit to be able to discern good from wrong. God’s word says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (v.4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
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