Grant Me Joy

Many times I've been asked how I can remain happy with life, or at least appear to be happy, while battling a physical disability that has no medical cure. The answer for me is simple. I have something beyond happiness. It's called joy. I'm not a psychiatrist so the explanation I'll be sharing is not based on any medical or mental health knowledge that I know of.  I'm not here to win a debate or argue if happiness and joy are the same thing, albeit, I don't think they are. I think they are different words with distinct different meanings. Am I happy? That depends. It depends on the circumstances around me.  Am I joyful? ALL THE TIME because my surroundings or circumstances no matter how bad cannot change or alter my joy. Confused? I'll explain. From my own personal account both as a Christian and a non-believer before I came to Christ, I experienced happiness whether I was saved or whether I was unsaved. However, I never had JOY as a non-believer even though I could experience happiness. Why? If you think about it, happiness is triggered by external things and is based on other people, places, thoughts, or events, etc.  In other words, you're either happy or not happy based on outside stimuli. Examples: We are happy when we feel loved by another person.  We are happy when we are on vacation. We are happy when we eat a favorite meal. We are happy knowing we bought a house, drive a new car, have a great job, etc. Joy on the other hand, is not based or measured by events, circumstances or emotions. Joy is internal. It doesn't ebb and wane. It comes from an unspeakable peace knowing who you are IN CHRIST, your secured relationship with God, and knowing your place with Him.  "Joy is a fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).  It's given by God and cultivated internally, not because of external stimuli. Joy remains even when happiness turns to sadness.  So many people have never found joy, and many of us have lost touch with joy not knowing how to cultivate it any more. Unfortunately, people will resort to alcohol, drugs, addictive foods, anything that for a fleeting moment brings some kind of stimuli to make them feel happy.

Most people want to feel happy.  I do!  Happiness is a goal of all humans.  I want to feel loved, enjoy a pet, go places, experience things or hobbies that make me happy. The truth is, the Bible never promises happiness.  Did you know that? However, it does promise joy. Again, there is a difference. Think about this statement and repeat it if you have to: You can have joy without happiness but you can't really be happy without joy; at least lasting happiness! This should hit home with anyone who is a Christian! It's easy to be happy when all is well: your health is good, you're financially secure, you get along with everyone, you're eating healthy, your body is in good shape, you are maintaining your looks for you age, etc. but then trouble comes in one or more of these areas and what happens to the "happiness?" It's probably gone because happiness is dependent on outside circumstances!  Happiness ebbs and wanes.  Sometimes it's destroyed altogether. However. if you trust in Jesus you know you are secure in His hands (John 10:28-29) and therefore, YOU'VE STILL GOT JOY!  It's simple really. Happiness is based on "happenings," meaning if things happen to go well, you're happy, but if it happens that something bad occurs then you're happiness is likely gone. Not so with joy!  That's why in the midst of my 24/7 physical challenges I can and do remain joyful. "The joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10.)

Before Jesus went to Calvary He said something interesting, "These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11) He also said, "You will have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). Jesus promised the disciples that their joy would be full (complete).  That is permanent, a permanent possession, not a fleeting moment like happiness can be.  This is one way I can distinguish the meaning between happiness and joy.  Too, notice that Jesus assures them "your sorrow will turn to joy."  A good example that helped me relate to sorrow turning to joy was when my mother-in-law (who was a born-again Christian) passed away from cancer.  I was heavy with sorrow knowing I could never see her again yet my heart was overfilled with joy KNOWING she was in the arms of Jesus, AND because I was without fear or doubt where her spirit went. Oh the joy knowing I WOULD SEE HER AGAIN!! You've probably heard this before ... I was crying and laughing at the same time. Even though I was filled with grief and sorrow knowing I could never talk to her again, my joy remained!  Hopefully I've helped you to see why I believe happiness and joy are not the same thing. You can actually be in a state of happiness and contentment one moment and then dread the very next.  And though many of us think joy and happiness have a lot in common, one thing they that they don't have in common is one is permanent while the other is fleeting. ONE IS FROM GOD and one is from us. One comes and goes but the other will remain.

As Christians, we have JOY because we are saved.  How amazing that we've been rescued from the wrath of sin and death. How joyful 'a thought! Paul rejoiced in this, "May the God of hope FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY and peace believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).  The joy I speak about doesn't depart when we shed tears.  It remains in our spirit to carry us through tough times: James 1:2, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." There's no need to be upset or fall apart when our circumstances change because the JOY OF THE LORD WILL BE OUR STRENGTH!  Do you believe in God and really, wholeheartedly trust Jesus? Then you have nothing to be troubled about when life disappoints you, fails you, turns on you, or changes directions. You have nothing to fear or sorrow over continually because you have eternal life!  That alone should bring great joy, comfort, contentment, and yes happiness knowing you are safe and secure IN JESUS! "Weeping may tarry for the night, but JOY comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5)  Happiness may be good, but joy is much better.  May God Grant you joy! 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Fight Fight Fight

I was channel surfing last week zipping past college sporting events because I'm just not interested in them. If and when I happen to watch any sporting event, it's usually football. The large crowds that attend events never cease to amaze me. I often think to myself, "Why can't people gather, get excited, and cheer over Jesus like that?" It blows my mind that great numbers of people will flock into stadiums to see their favorite team, but few of those same people would ever think about attending an event where the gospel is being preached. When I was in high school I was a faithful football fan and never missed attending a Friday night game. I can still remember yelling from the stands, "FIGHT FIGHT, red blue and white ...go Stags!"  Did you know that in the Bible there is a fight call for Christians? There is. If you are a Christian, you have actually entered into a spiritual sporting event by reason of your faith.  Paul referred to it as a race and said, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24). Paul cheers Timothy with this fight call, "Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). What exactly is the good fight of faith and how do you fight it?  

Something to be considered in this race is a belief God - to believe in His character, to believe in His promises, to believe that He is in control, to believe that He will bring about the final culmination of all things.  Unfortunately, some Christians have more faith in believing their home team will win a baseball game than believing God will bring victory over their battles. The book of Hebrews lists several characters from the Old Testament who fought the good fight, they fought to believe and succeeded in that fight: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses to name a few, but consider Hebrews 11:29: By FAITH the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. When reading, I noticed that though the book of Hebrews account says "by faith" the people crossed the Red Sea, the Exodus account seems a little different. Not that they are contradictory, but that one account describes the people as 'faithful', yet the other account says that the people complained when they saw Pharaoh's army pursuing them. Look at this...

The Israelites snapped at Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?  What have you done to us bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness" (Exodus 14: 11-12). AFTER God brings the Israelites through the Red Sea as by dry land and drowns the pursuing army, it was THEN they believed: "Israel saw the great power of the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses (Exodus 14:31). BUT! ..only a few days later they began to grumble against Moses again (in reality against God) when there was no water (Exodus 15: 23-24); and shortly thereafter they complained even more. This time they were angry about the lack of food and wished once again they had never left Egypt to follow Moses: "Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meal pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger" (Exodus 16:3). The book of Hebrews assures us the Israelites have faith, yet Exodus shows us plainly that their faith is fickle and small. God is almighty. He protected them from the Egyptian army. He divided the sea so that they could walk between walls of water as though on dry ground. Yet notice, their faith was up and down like a yo-yo. 

Their example should make you question, "What about me? Does my faith, like theirs, ebb and flow? Do I trust God one day and then act as if He has no regard for me the next?"Could it be you are full of fear and uncertainties when dangers lie ahead? Just remember Hebrews 11:29.  God's fulfillment of His promises depends on HIM, not you!  Remind yourself of Who He is, what He has done, what He is capable of, and what He has promised. Listen to other believers, Christians in your own church, your circle of born-again friends who are there to stand alongside you in this fight of faith. Reflect on God's Word because in it He tells you exactly what His promises are to all those running the race and who will finish without quitting. So be strong and not fickle. Fight the good fight of faith, the fight to believe yes, but don't focus on your faith. Focus on the God who is the object of your faith!  Then you can endure to the end by HIS power to receive the crown set aside for you. You only get a crown if you finish.  No crown or prize is ever rewarded to the one that quits. 1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" ... because those that sustain will obtain.  

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

 

Rooted and Grounded in Love

 

We see the words "rooted and grounded" written in Ephesians 3:17, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

 We, as believers, and through our faith in HIM (as Paul states) can be filled with all the fullness of GOD and comprehend it! How? If we are fixed, established, immovable, secure, firm, set, unwavering, settled, fastened, firmly implanted, unchangeable, and permanently stationed IN THE WORD OF GOD.

When we are firmly set in the word of God (to know it you have to read it), our focus and gaze, both internally and externally, can shift to deeper, spiritual matters that allow us to understand and grow because we lean into our rootedness in Christ (Ephesians 3: 16-19.) What exactly does being rooted and grounded in love even mean? In the Bible, Jesus is considered love. Every born again believer is to be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus who is love. Jesus is our foundation in which we are to live life. (1 John 4:8, Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 2:6-7). The Bible is full of parables and hidden truths with clear meanings. One of the parables with a special meaning is found in Jeremiah 17:7 "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. whose confidence is in Him (rooted and grounded in Him) for he will be like a tree planted by the water who sends out its roots by the stream. Have you ever taken notice of trees that are planted on or near water? I live up the street from a park who has a big pond that feeds off of a huge lake. There are many trees around this pond and all of them are healthy even though they are very old. Their roots can easily reach out to that water source and even when undergoing drought and the hot summers of the Midwest they never become stressed, wilt, or die.

What does the Bible say about a man who trusts in the Lord? Scripture says any person that trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by water and spreads out their roots by the river. Further interpretation is,  they don’t know when heat comes, but their leaf shall be green all the time (regardless of circumstances around them). They are not concerned in the year of drought and neither do they cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:8 KJV). Simply said, the person that trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted near water. A tree that has no water source will eventually die. A tree that has a constant supply of water will not thirst and will grow. When we are connected to Jesus, we will never thirst (lack). We will grow (mature in His Word giving us understanding). We will yield fruit (referring to the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22-23).

The Bible often uses the word 'water' to represent/symbolize the Word of God. This "tree" representing us therefore, relies on the water of Life- which is the word of GOD. It is through the Word we grow, mature, understand, and have life. Again, when we are firmly set in the word of God our focus and gaze, both internally and externally, can shift to deeper, spiritual matters that allow us to and grow and comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height because we lean into our rootedness in Christ.

Look at these references to water and  Who/what "water" is:

*John 1:1 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.

*John 1:14 (KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. The WORD WAS GOD (as stated above) who became flesh--JESUS. Jesus was GOD in the flesh Who came to us. The disciples said, "and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

*Ephesians 5:26 (KJV)  That He might sanctify and cleanse it (His Church/believers) with the washing of water by the Word.

*John 4:14 (KJV)  Jesus speaking, "but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  ... like a tree  planted by the water.

Every tree that is near water will have its roots grow out towards the water to drink from it. God says for a born again believer to be rooted and grounded in love; the Living Water. Jesus/God is love according to scripture. Jesus says those that believe on him, out of their belly shall flow rivers of living waters. Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit flowing from within them.

Now look at these references:

1 John 4:16 (KJV)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Ephesians 3:17 (KJV)  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love may know ...

Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV)  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  7  Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

John 7:38-39 (KJV)  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

In other words, the person that trusts in the Lord will be rooted and grounded in love which is God/Jesus. Their roots are by the river so they are filled with the Holy Ghost, they are dwelling in God and God in them.

The good news for this tree in particular, is that it will have green leaves and it will not worry or be anxious in a season of drought and will still continue to yield fruit if it is  firmly planted by faith. The person who trusts in the Lord will not be consumed (key word is consumed) by any troubles that may come in the world (troubles will challenge them/you) but there is no reason to fear or be anxious because the Lord is with them and you. The Lord is our provider and will keep our leaf green and we will still bear fruit during those dry seasons. 

You could say a season of drought is upon the earth as we speak. Are you still producing fruit regardless of the chaos and instability across the globe right now?  On the other hand, the person who does not trust in the Lord is in an opposite scenario. They will be affected by the drought (trouble) and more severe droughts to come. It will affect their leaf, and they will be worried because they are unable to bear fruit. For anything to grow it needs water, just as we need WATER to survive physically and THE WATER/WORD to survive spiritually . 

The born again believer that trusts in the Lord has the kingdom within themselves and is urged to share their fruit of life with those without. Why? Hoping that those trees (people) without would become planted/rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ as well... " Or despise thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4 (KJV).

 It is the goodness of God that leads those trees/people who are in trouble (without Jesus) to repentance. God wants them all to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ so they can be rooted and grounded in love, growing in grace and truth, and able themselves to bear the fruit of GALATIANS 5: 22-23.

Until He Comes,

-Pat- 

Truth VS Opinion

Twenty two years go while sitting in my office, I overheard a conversation between a visiting psychiatrist and the psychiatrist I was working under.  As they were conversing the visiting psychiatrist asked:.

"What was your most difficult case?"

"I had a patient who lived in a pure fantasy world. He believed that an uncle in South America was going to die and leave him a fortune. All day long he waited for a letter to arrive from an attorney. He never went out, he never did anything, he merely sat around and waited for this fantasy letter from this fantasy uncle. I worked with this man eight years." 

"What was the result?" 

"It was an eight-year struggle. Every day for eight years, but I finally cured him... then that stupid letter arrived!"

Reality is, the letter mentioned above was “truth.” It was the truth that man had waited 8 years for. However, until that letter arrived – at least as far my boss was concerned – “truth” didn't exist. Truth was a fantasy. Truth was the fabrication of a “mentally challenged” individual who needed to be cured. And even when that “truth” turned up in the mailbox – my boss was still uncomfortable with it. It's the same with people today. Many have difficulty with the idea of truth as strange as that may sound. Something inside tells us IF we ignore “TRUTH” we do so at our own peril. There are consequences to setting truth aside. But why do people still blatantly ignore the truth? Or why do people have difficulty with morality? Why do they reject a standard of what is “right and wrong?” Why do they prefer shades of gray to black and white?  I thought about these questions as I was writing this blog and then it suddenly occurred to me, the problem is not with the TRUTH. Everybody has their own standard of truth. Everyone has a standard by which they decide what is right and wrong.  The problem is NOT that people reject TRUTH –They are rejecting someone else’s truth. They are rejecting some else’s right to decide what is right and wrong. They want to be the authority. They want to be the ones who decide what is moral and what isn't. People will accept only what they WANT to hear. They will agree only with the authority they wish to obey. In reality, the real authority they want in their lives is - THEY themselves! They are the MASTERS of their lives and many times people will agree with “truth” ONLY when “truth” agrees with them. It's the same when it comes to religion. People will choose the religion that fits how they want to live. Some want no Savior, others want to believe they come back again as plants or animals, others want to worship cows as sacred, others believe just be kind and you're safe, others it requires good behavior, some believe we're all gods and therefore you're automatically saved,  etc.

When it comes to faith, there is no TRUTH outside of God's WORD.  GOD is the beginning and end of TRUTH. Everything else outside that is opinion; conjecture.  Let that sink in! There is only one Truth (Gods Word) but there are thousands of opinions. As a couple of examples, believing cows are sacred is an opinion. Creating a Hindu god in the form of a cow and naming that god, Devi, is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. I'll tell you what is in the Bible... Romans 1:23 " And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."  You've heard a lot of people believe in reincarnation.  The idea itself sounds great, I admit.  Why not come back and learn again and get it right.  Reincarnation is a process of self-improvement to make oneself good enough to be accepted by God.  If you fail, just come back and try again until you reach perfection.  First of all, according to Truth, we can never be good enough by our own works or goodness to secure a seat in heaven. Secondly, do you realize the Bible exposes  reincarnation as false? It does. I've known many people living in their own truth, their own conclusions, their own opinions, who tell me no where in the Bible does it say reincarnation is a lie. Well, I'd have to agree to this much - although God's Word doesn't say it in that way, it says it this way in Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Well, not only are those words crystal clear.... we die ONCE, but that Biblical verse just annihilated a "made-man truth."  God's Word is clear.  Christianity is the only belief that recognizes the hopeless gap between man and a Holy, Righteous God, teaching that salvation can only be obtained through God's grace and is not achieved through any human effort as all other religions teach.  Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). What He was saying was this… “I (Jesus Christ) am the Master.” No one else will serve to be the authority you can trust to give you total truth all else is opinion.

I can't be that master and neither can you.  No President, no congressman, no man made religious authority can give you total truth. But Jesus can. Only Jesus HAS the truth because ONLY Jesus IS the truth. Again, people will accept only what they WANT to hear. They will agree only with the authority they wish to obey. BUT in reality, the real authority they want in their lives is- THEY themselves. They are the MASTERS of their lives.  They decide their own right and wrong. The apostle John wrote that, ready for this?? ..."THE WHOLE WORLD lies under the authority of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). No one is good on his own, regardless of benevolent deeds, kindness, church attendance, good behavior, etc.  These "things" don't qualify you to be good enough.  They don't abolish your sin nature!  Paul warned that people will "follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons"(1 Timothy 4:1).  From the beginning Satan has been deceiving humanity!  Don't be embarrassed. I was deceived.  We've all been deceived.  In the garden Satan convinced Eve saying, "ye shall be as gods."  I can name several religions that adhere to that opinion. Don't you find it interesting that to be "divine" AS GOD is a common thread among many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, etc?  Oh, the lukewarm Christians aren't off the hook either.  There are MANY false preachers who are easily recognizable if you are a true follower of Jesus because the Holy Spirit bestows on us His discerning Spirit.  I need not call out the bad apples among us. Scripture even makes sure that we know Satan and his servants will masquerade as "ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11: 13-14).  Satan's hoisting of false religions has been a very effective lie since it mixes in some truth.  A lie mixed with truth is like rat poison which contains 99% good food and 1% poison. It's that 1% of disguised poison (or lie) that will kill you. 

 Why is it so hard to consider God's Word as TRUTH?  Why are people so reluctant to give up their own opinions?  I'm going to be honest with you.  I would still be a Catholic today, still confessing my "sins" to a man behind a curtain and still believing I need ashes placed on my forehead 46 days before Easter to celebrate Ash Wednesday as do Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others. I would still believe baptizing an infant only a few days old eliminates "original sin" as Catholicism teaches. Nothing destroys our sin nature but the Blood of Jesus and even then you have to be old enough to know and commit to a relationship with Him.  Infants can't do that. The facts are, I would still be participating in Novena on Thursday nights and the Stations of the Cross. I was following the opinion, ordinances, and traditions of men (Mark 7:8).  I'm not against Catholics don't misunderstand.  I'm against what they taught me.  It was and still is a lie. Scripture teaches that sin has separated us from a Holy God. Remember, "THE WHOLE WORLD lies under the authority of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19)  unless or until you're saved through Jesus Christ. The Bible informs us "All have sinned"  ... not some, not a few, not just the crooks ... ALL (Romans 3:23, 1 Kings 8:46, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 53:6). 

If you doubt the Word of God, ask yourself why would Jesus lie to us? For what purpose? Why did He hang, suffer, and die a cruel, ruthless death, if He was lying and not who He said He was? Can you walk on water? Heal the blind? Cure leprosy? Create the sun, moon, or stars? The only way to reconcile ourselves with Him is for us to confess we are guilty of sin (again, we are all under the authority of the wicked one the moment we are born) and then to confess, repent, and turn to Him for His forgiveness and grace. Many will not want to give up their own truths and opinions to hear this, but as one who has been shown and accepted Truth, you must be told because the Bible makes it very clear that if you do not accept Jesus, who has paid the debt of your sins as The Truth, your own unbelief which is YOUR truth will result in spiritual death. Jesus can wash cleanse, and absolve all sin committed by your rotten choices and mistakes but not if  you reject the Truth for your own opinion you hold as truth. Therefore, the Bible says you will be judged according to the Law that was written from the time of Moses. And since no one has ever been able to keep every commandment (the Law) that rejection will render you guilty of sin. You can read in 1 Corinthians 6:8-11 if you are guilty of any of the sins listed in that verse. If so, you will be condemned since there will be no Jesus standing there with you as your propitiation, the One who can satisfy the wrath of God against sin. He is the only one who satisfies the justice of God.

Finally, Since God WILL NOT FORCE ANYONE to love Him (you have a free will), His Holy nature leaves no other choice but to separate the unrepentant, the unbelieving from Him forever since these cannot enter the Holy of Holies!  The destination is eternal separation in hell. This may seem harsh and intolerant', but it is TRUTH according to God's Word of Truth.  It is not my opinion, it is God's warning. Without judgment and punishment to the "wicked" (again, we are born under the authority of the wicked one), God could not remain true to His Holy and Righteous character.  If what the Bible says is true regarding the spiritual warfare that is going on with Satan and his servants, the fact that there are other religions should certainly be no surprise, nor should it be a surprise that the Bible (The TRUTH) is attacked by  non-believers far more than any other religious book. For those with their own opinions that oppose the written Word --THINK ABOUT WHAT I JUST SAID-- those who reject the Bible as His Word of TRUTH,  are in trouble. Jesus emphatically warned His followers of the many counterfeits and false prophets who would come to try to lead men astray (Matthew 24:11, Mark 13:22, etc). The other religions and opinions of the world have been an effective tool of Satan in his quest to blind us of our need for a Savior. Are YOU of the opinion you don't need Jesus in order to be saved?   Look closely at this wording from 2 Corinthians 4:4 (emphasis mine) "The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL of the glory of Christ, who IS THE IMAGE OF GOD."  What is your opinion, your truth?

Until He Comes, 

-Pat-

Tearing The Cushions Off Your Couch

 

I'm curious and therefore, I have some questions for you.
Do the scriptures seem difficult to understand?

Do you get frustrated because nothing makes sense that you read?

Are you of the opinion, as so many are, that the Bible contradicts itself?

Have you retired the bible to a dusty shelf because you've given up reading it?

Are any of these questions asked the reason you either won't read the bible or are neglectful in reading if you are named among Christians? 

The bible teaches us that Gods Word is like treasure. Read this scripture then we'll look closely at it. Luke 15: 8-9,  "What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."

Let's suppose that woman in Luke 15 is you in 2024. And instead of losing a coin, you lose your diamond wedding ring. Or, if not married think of an item you treasure that you'd almost die if it were lost. Is it a particular picture? Grandma's antique broach she left you? A college ring? Your car keys? A diamond bracelet? Imagine now that the thing you treasure has been misplaced somewhere in your house. Or was it? Is it there or did you lose it elsewhere ... at the store? In a parking beside your car as you drove away? The first logical place you would start searching is in your house: 

the nightstand

drawers

the bathroom vanity

the last piece of clothing you wore

the laundry basket ... 

And when nothing showed up you would dig deeper: 

the driver side of the car

the passenger side

checking the floor mats

the distance from the garage to the house

you'd probably begin to calling friends to check their homes since you were there recently

you might place a call to customer service at your favorite grocery store, etc. 

Then, as your search still resulted in nothing, things would become more desperate! Your search would take you to:

crawling under tables

ripping out closets

tearing the cushions off your couch!!

Reaching underneath it, etc.

Can you imagine the desperation that would overwhelm you? You would vow to search and search and search until you found your treasured item.

THIS is how we should hunger to find the hidden manna in the word of God by reading and searching the scriptures daily.

You may ask, "why is the Word so difficult to comprehend? Why isn't it written in simpler terms for us to easily grasp?"

The answer is simple. Unless you search hungrily for your own missing treasured item, you will never find it. Likewise, unless you put forth an honest effort to search and diligently seek Gods Word, which is the true treasure of life (not material things), you will not find nor understand it. God has hidden His treasure and found only by those who read and sincerely study His Word.

A earnest person who wants a relationship with Jesus will read, study, search, and hunger for the Word of God. Remember, Jesus WAS THE WORD made flesh (John 1:14) By reading, you're getting to know Jesus just as anyone becomes curious and desires to know someone they want a relationship with.

All other uninterested people will put the bible on a shelf ignoring and neglecting it.

This, therefore, is the measure which reveals your heart and true intimacy with God!

Jesus said, Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Or simply, what you put your heart into, THAT is what you treasure. 

Where do you invest all your time? What do you treasure? Do you make any time for God? If not, scripture says you are foolish.

Who is foolish? It is "those who lay treasure up for themselves and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).

We are to keep our lamps burning while waiting for Jesus' return. We are to be vigilant and diligent about our salvation by keeping our lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. How do we do that? By reading the WORD which is poured out without measure to those who seek. We are advised to keep our minds fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, we will be better able to resist the devil and his constant attempts to bring us down. If we become slack in reading or neglecting Gods Word altogether, our light will begin to dim until it no longer gives light. Then, it is rendered useless.

For me, this means don't fizzle out. I must refresh and renew my mind daily in His Word so that in this dark world I run this race with endurance so others also will see my light and be drawn to God as a moth to light. Another example Jesus gave is found in Matthew 15:13. Jesus is teaching His disciples and also all who would follow including you and me, "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it season? It is then good for nothing but to be cast out and be trodden under the foot of men." We are to be 'lights' as well as 'salt' to those around us, pointing to salvation and eternal life by sharing the Word of God. But how can you shine or season anyone, including yourself,  if you do not read? 

"Blessed is the man who meditates on His law day and night" (Psalm 1:2-3) Reading the Bible is the best investment in life. 

Reasons:

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, or correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God (that's you) may be complete, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17."

 "Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

 The Word of God is the source of faith ... "Faith comes in hearing, and hearing by the word of God" 

There's more! Gods Word is the source of salvation, truth, freedom, discernment, spiritual food, growth, victory over temptation, a source of happiness, joy, and blessedness, a source of purity/holiness, a means of self-diagnosis, correction, guidance, comfort, a source of answered prayer, victory, healing, assurance, a preparation for good works, a source of warning, and a glimps into future events.

Won't you pick up your Bible and read today? Strengthen your relationship with God. Top off your lamp with oil so that you are not ashamed at His coming.

Until He comes,

-Pat-