Sin and the simplicity of the Gospel

Remember, it will not be the "act" of sin God will punish come final judgement. Rather, every soul that rejects His only begotten Son's perfect sacrifice & atonement will be cast away! 

Do we really realize the price Christ, the Messiah paid when He endured His Father's wrath? So many want to chalk it up to His physical sufferings. Its so much DEEPER THAN THIS! This was the 1st ever separation He had from His Father... Sin separates us from God. 

JESUS BORE OUR SIN! EVERY BIT OF IT! Everything you and I would ever do to break God's heart and His law. 

Even as much as I believe, my tiny human mind cannot fully comprehend that magnitude! People say, "religion is complicated. It's dull and boring." Christ didn't come to give you a bunch of hoops to jump through. He came to give you LIFE! HE CAME TO SET US FREE! He came to give us HOPE so that we CAN know the Father and His impeccable LOVE for us, His creation. 

Truth is, we sin. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." How dare we claim to be "good", when there is NONE GOOD BUT JEHOVAH! 

I know that's pretty abstruse but that's the simplicity of the Gospel Truth! We need not complicate the only thing that saves a soul from eternal damnation!

Ready to Answer

Matthew Henry once said, "If we would have God's Word ready in our mouths when we have occasion for it, we must keep it in our hearts at all times."

From the Old Testament all throughout the New, we are given the keys to a closer walk. It's easy to talk about things and people we know in proper light and truth when we KNOW them! 

"But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." Deuteronomy 30:15

Therefore, this is a requirement if we desire to fulfill this instruction...

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15

Are we taking the necessary time to feat at the Lord's table? Are you ready to give answers to those who ask of the hope within you?

Used to the Good - a smidge of my testimony

This weekend is quite a somber reminder for me. 

20 years ago today, we were in an interstate roll over accident. We rolled 3/4 of a mile! Hit by a drunk illegal immigrant in a stolen vehicle, our lives completely changed. Matter of fact, the "old me" died that night.

This could go many directions as I could share thousands of things that the Lord has brought me through since then. Still, for times sake and our short attention spans, I'll share this...

We have everything to be thankful for. God has a purpose for you as He does for me. Apart from Christ, we make things much harder than we need to. No only in our lives, but for those around us. 

Christ requires surrender, genuine and whole hearted devotion to Him and Him alone. He literally rescued me from myself that night and though that was the beginning of a very long, hard and difficult journey; its one I wouldn't be able to do even to this day without Him. He's my constant, even through childhood to now in my middle ages, He remains the same. 

Knowing and walking with Him doesn't mean life is easy or perfect, quite opposite to be frank. It doesn't make one person "better" or "above" another. What it does do is grant a whole new lense in which we experience life, how we view love, mercy, compassion, grace, mercy, empathy and forgiveness. There's a deeper need for the One who knows all, sees all and cares the most. It's new desires that cannot compare to what was once cherished.

If you aren't walking with the King of kings and Lord of Lord's, Jesus Christ, I pray you don't have to endure a fraction of my journey before you stop to consider why you do what you do, like what you like and approve of that which you do. God has a way of getting our attention and revealing Himself far deeper than any religion could ever shed light on. 

As I reflect on the good and the bad of that terrible night, I know God has and still is using it to the good, for His good. I've been called to follow Jesus and it's by Him my identity is found, not by any other title such as author, business owner, no worldly attainment, company kept or any other positions life can hold. 

People will see what they want to see. My hope is that somewhere Jesus is seen in me. 

Are you a hypocrite?

"He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears." Job 13:16-17 

Many Christians are accused of being a hypocrite, myself included.

So what is a hypocrite? 

a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. ~ Dictionary.com

"Let me ask you, how many atheists are now in this house? Perhaps not a single one of you would accept the title, and yet, if you live from Monday morning to Saturday night in the same way as you would live if there were no God, you are practical atheists; and as actions speak more loudly than words, you are more atheists than those doctrinal unbelievers who disavow God with their mouths, and, after all, are secretly afraid of him."~ CH Spurgeon.

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8

Another term for this "athiest", "hypocrite" or "double-minded" person is LUKEWARM...

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16

This is a very dangerous place to be. God will not allow you into the Kingdom of Heaven without the mark of His Son's blood that covers a multitude of sin, and sealed by His Holy Spirit! Chose this day whom you will serve. You never know when your final breath will be drawn. If you talk the talk then walk the walk! You may be fooling others around you and possibly even yourself, but God judges the intents of the heart. He cannot be deceived!

There is nothing hidden from His sight. Are you truly living what you claim? Do words and actions match? Are you willing to prayerfully examine yourself in the light of Scripture?

Do you believe in God?

Have you ever been asked, "Do you believe in God"? Most of us have. What does this question mean to you? Is it His existence? 

IS HE REAL ENOUGH TO YOU TO OBEY HIM?

If you say you DO believe in God, is there PROOF in your life? Do you believe in Christ as you do in God? Is He seen in your lifestyle or do you look and act the same as those who don't? 

It's not enough to simply "believe" if there's NO evidence of our OBEDIENCE to Him.

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19

If demons believe and tremble (which is to shudder in fear) yet serve Satan, how are we as humans any different? Is not our lives proof as to whom we serve?

God’s Standard vs. Man's

That which is acceptable & deemed appropriate by man doesn't necessarily mean it's the same standard as the Living God. 

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:7-9

In fact this world has approved countless standards that completely go against the Almighty. His thoughts, goals, ways and standards are so high that we need Divine intervention to reach & attain them. 

Whose standards do you live by? God's or man's?

A snapshot of my testimony

A snapshot of my testimony  

by Michelle M. James

For many years I lived lukewarm. I had enough of Jesus to make me feel good but not enough to make a difference. I loved Him as Saviour but rejected Him as Lord. I indulged when it was convenient but neglected Him full time. I always knew to cry out in times of need but as soon as things were "right my way" I quickly parted from His feet.

I never really understood my surrender was required or how serious God sees sin as vile wretched and evil. I had head knowledge of Christ but my heart was hard as stone. There was nothing personal about my relationship with Him. Actually to say a relationship existed is blasphemous in itself!

Then one day He showed me I was no different from anyone else. I talked just like them, dressed just like them, acted no different, indulged in the same music, movies and entertainment that contradicts Him. So on and so on things were made clear.

Truth struck at my heart as lighting to a dead tree. I was Christian in name only as I really didn't know this King. I knew of Him, that much was true but in reality I created a god of convenience who looked no different than me and you.

His love hurts, then heals as He makes all things known. His character is real and without compromising Himself, He is true to His Word. His attributes are divine and His ways are so much different than mine.

If you say you know Him, are you sure it's the One who gave His life for you? Is there evidence of Him in your thoughts, life, behavior and in your love for Him and others? Is there a change that continues to be seen, felt and heard?

#SelfExamination #HeartCheck #SurrenderRequired

 #honestyispowerful #bringingtruthtodeceivedpeople