True. Sooooo? How do you want to look back on you and your life? I realize that the title seems to imply throwing away all restraint and 'going for it'. Not the intent. Definition. 'You only live once' is a fact, especially when you consider your physical self. However...
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the
judgment," (Hebrews 9:27, (NKJV)
Whoa! What's this about judgment? Judgment! Precisely! No one gets a free ride. You do have to acknowledge and own your own life. This is the basis on which we are 'evaluated' by the Lord. A few of the verses that speak to this:
"Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face
judgment," (Hebrews 9:27)
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so
that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done
while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every
hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
"But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we
would not come under such judgment." (1 Corinthians 11:31)
Those scriptures are not an exhaustive list, but it does prove the message. If we only live once, our question is - what are we doing with our resources, time, energy, and talents? And what obstacles, problems, etc. do we have when we aren't acting on who we are? ... and when we do! Never forget you have an enemy that tries to pull out all the stops when it comes to you becoming and acting on your best you.
Related to 'you only live once' is 'no one gets a free ride'. You know this intellectually, but sometimes we want to ignore this, push the boundaries, and 'throw off restraints'. And we all know the eventual outcome - disaster. Then we have the issue of apologizing, attempting to restore, and repenting.
I suspect for some, there's a sense of relief that (whatever their 'lot' is) an end does come. Again. All the wrong reasons for actualizing your life. Ultimately it is your life. You are responsible and you can't point fingers. The reality is that Jesus came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10). We can walk in this or reject it - but we can't do both. When we make Jesus our Lord, then we have the ability to walk in abundance. But all these decisions are ours to make. We only live once - in this life... but this is not the end.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Thursday, July 18, 2019
It's a Process
I don't know how many times I've said this, written about it, or implied that Everything that is of major importance in life is a process! Nothing is instantaneous... and when it comes to essential issues, it probably is never ending too. Experience suggests that whatever the major issue is.. it is either atrophying or growing. It never is both. And one of the 2 positions dominates.
Have you made the same discovery too? Actually, the reality that the critical components of our lives are in a process of growth, improving, refining, etc. is quite relieving. As a new Christian I thought I had to 'know it all' right away. I had read in scripture that:
"No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying,
'Know the LORD,' because they will all know Me, from the least of
them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their
iniquities and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)
"And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you,
and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and
genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as
you have been taught." (1 John 2:27)
There are others that also say similarly. True... but I think I didn't understand the verses and probably mis-applied them in my life. The first verse is implying a future reality. The second is telling us about the baptism in the Spirit. This second aspect is always ongoing as long as we live in this realm. Where we are now is our learning lab. We are continually building line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10)
However, there is a caution in this. While I do believe that we are constantly growing in those important components, it isn't license to sit on what or where we are ... nor is it an excuse. We are beckoned into a deeper relationship and understanding. This can't be accomplished until we act on 'moving on'. Never forget Who it is you are following - the Lord. Would you consider yourself, or the church having attained 'perfection'? The following is an excerpt from Ephesians 4 and is Paul's prayer for the church and indicates what Jesus prepared as we grow.
"...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the
body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may
no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness
in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from
whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with
which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the
body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (v. 12-16)
Are you and your brother and sisters in the Lord: equipped, built up, in unity of the faith, in knowledge of the Son - to a mature man, no longer children, speak the truth in love, providing your part, building the body in love? If so, then you may have accomplished the goal of bringing to the Lord a church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:26-27). Probably not though.
We are still in process. Attainment will occur - at the Second Coming. That's not a negative or put down. We have a goal set before us - that doesn't change. The wonderful news is if you go to the end of the book you'll see... we win.
Have you made the same discovery too? Actually, the reality that the critical components of our lives are in a process of growth, improving, refining, etc. is quite relieving. As a new Christian I thought I had to 'know it all' right away. I had read in scripture that:
"No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying,
'Know the LORD,' because they will all know Me, from the least of
them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their
iniquities and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)
"And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you,
and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and
genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as
you have been taught." (1 John 2:27)
There are others that also say similarly. True... but I think I didn't understand the verses and probably mis-applied them in my life. The first verse is implying a future reality. The second is telling us about the baptism in the Spirit. This second aspect is always ongoing as long as we live in this realm. Where we are now is our learning lab. We are continually building line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28:10)
However, there is a caution in this. While I do believe that we are constantly growing in those important components, it isn't license to sit on what or where we are ... nor is it an excuse. We are beckoned into a deeper relationship and understanding. This can't be accomplished until we act on 'moving on'. Never forget Who it is you are following - the Lord. Would you consider yourself, or the church having attained 'perfection'? The following is an excerpt from Ephesians 4 and is Paul's prayer for the church and indicates what Jesus prepared as we grow.
"...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the
body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may
no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness
in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from
whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with
which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the
body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (v. 12-16)
Are you and your brother and sisters in the Lord: equipped, built up, in unity of the faith, in knowledge of the Son - to a mature man, no longer children, speak the truth in love, providing your part, building the body in love? If so, then you may have accomplished the goal of bringing to the Lord a church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:26-27). Probably not though.
We are still in process. Attainment will occur - at the Second Coming. That's not a negative or put down. We have a goal set before us - that doesn't change. The wonderful news is if you go to the end of the book you'll see... we win.
Monday, July 15, 2019
ALL YOUR DAYS
Ever really thought about this?
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6, ESV)
Are Goodness and Mercy following you? If so... do you acknowledge this? If not... do you know why? I suppose the question really is - do you want goodness and mercy following you? Do you feel that you would 'owe' a payment to the Lord because of goodness/mercy? And how do you define this. How would you know they are following... would anyone else?
I do understand that the question of wanting them evident in your life seems like a no-brainer. But it really isn't. The reason is that there is a price to be paid for having this in your life... just as there is a price to be paid when they aren't. First... what was being said in the first 5 verses of the 23rd Psalm?
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down
in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my
soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." ESV
A more modern translations is from the Message Bible:
"God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me
down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in
the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s
crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my
cup brims with blessing." MSG
My point is that regardless of translation, the message hasn't changed. Then again, it can't. (Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18) The reason the Word hasn't changed... nor will it. And the message is:
1. The Lord is our shepherd
2. We don't need, we are restored
3. The Lord's leading is true and right
4. He walks with us, never leaving us alone
5. He revives and strengthens us in the presence of enemies
Because of all this Mercy and Goodness follow us. And...We shall dwell in the House of the Lord... forever.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6, ESV)
I do understand that the question of wanting them evident in your life seems like a no-brainer. But it really isn't. The reason is that there is a price to be paid for having this in your life... just as there is a price to be paid when they aren't. First... what was being said in the first 5 verses of the 23rd Psalm?
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down
in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my
soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." ESV
A more modern translations is from the Message Bible:
"God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me
down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in
the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s
crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my
cup brims with blessing." MSG
My point is that regardless of translation, the message hasn't changed. Then again, it can't. (Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18) The reason the Word hasn't changed... nor will it. And the message is:
1. The Lord is our shepherd
2. We don't need, we are restored
3. The Lord's leading is true and right
4. He walks with us, never leaving us alone
5. He revives and strengthens us in the presence of enemies
Because of all this Mercy and Goodness follow us. And...We shall dwell in the House of the Lord... forever.
Friday, July 12, 2019
It"s NEVER too late
When it comes to salvation... it's never too late. Regardless of what you've done... you can turn to the Lord and receive your gift of Life. BUT you must come with a repentance heart, truly sorry for what you've done, inflicted on others. And you must resolve to never repeat those words and acts. If this describes you then there is always hope.... it never is too little, too late.
Your unsaved position is both a status that you share with many and is one that you can choose to change. The perspective that you must begin with is God's. How He views sin, separation, 'conditions' for restoration, etc. Man is the one who moved away from God, sinned, continued, and was in need of forgiveness. It would be God who would be the one determining the route.
The following scriptures represent God's view. What He did to help us back to relationship. All these verses come from Romans and the Amplified Bible.
"As it is written and forever remains written, 'There is none righteous
[none that meets God's standard], not even one." 3:10
"... since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of
God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin,
made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by
His [precious, undeserved] [a]grace, through the redemption
[the payment for our sin]which is [provided] in Christ Jesus..." 3:23-24
"But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the
fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 5:8
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His
remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord." 6:23
"...because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God],
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior]
resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being
freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the
mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting
in and confirming [his] salvation." 10:9-10
This is the way to relationship... and it is NEVER too late to acknowledge and accept the free gift of salvation.
Your unsaved position is both a status that you share with many and is one that you can choose to change. The perspective that you must begin with is God's. How He views sin, separation, 'conditions' for restoration, etc. Man is the one who moved away from God, sinned, continued, and was in need of forgiveness. It would be God who would be the one determining the route.
The following scriptures represent God's view. What He did to help us back to relationship. All these verses come from Romans and the Amplified Bible.
"As it is written and forever remains written, 'There is none righteous
[none that meets God's standard], not even one." 3:10
"... since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of
God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin,
made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by
His [precious, undeserved] [a]grace, through the redemption
[the payment for our sin]which is [provided] in Christ Jesus..." 3:23-24
"But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the
fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 5:8
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His
remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord." 6:23
"...because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God],
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior]
resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being
freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the
mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting
in and confirming [his] salvation." 10:9-10
This is the way to relationship... and it is NEVER too late to acknowledge and accept the free gift of salvation.
"For whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” 10:13
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Personal Check Off To Do's
Though it may sound slightly pathetic, or more precise - maudlin, do you have your own 'To Be Accomplished' list? This is not a 'Bucket List' of places you want to go or things you want to see ... this is a list of 'Things' You want to do, accomplish before you die. So.... how are you progressing toward checking them off? And even more important, do you experience a kind of satisfaction when you do check off an item?
Those weren't idle questions... actually, they are meant to help you consider and really look at what's truly important to you and your life. If you are only looking for a 'comfortable life', you are selling yourself short. Life is so much more than the easy path. Besides, exactly what is your 'comfortable life', your easy path? Do you have operationalized definitions? Would you recognize what your seeking if you found it? Would you see what your not focusing on at the same time?
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
(Matthew 7: 13)
"The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;"
(Psalms 37:23)
"Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil."
(Proverbs 4:26-27)
The promises. The dangers. Your choice.
What do these last words have to do with checking off your "Accomplishment" list? Everything. How you go about accomplishing your goals, your plans speak volumes about who you are and what you value. We can never justify our words or behaviors that really are selfish, self-serving with a 'it's for the greater good'. Whose good? Is it really possible to do the wrong thing, for the wrong reason, and still have it be 'for the good'? (Rhetorical question.)
Personally, I love checking off those things that I really wanted to accomplish. Completing one's goals is very satisfying. But it has to be filtered through our words and behaviors. Method is always trumped by character traits.
Those weren't idle questions... actually, they are meant to help you consider and really look at what's truly important to you and your life. If you are only looking for a 'comfortable life', you are selling yourself short. Life is so much more than the easy path. Besides, exactly what is your 'comfortable life', your easy path? Do you have operationalized definitions? Would you recognize what your seeking if you found it? Would you see what your not focusing on at the same time?
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
(Matthew 7: 13)
"The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;"
(Psalms 37:23)
"Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil."
(Proverbs 4:26-27)
The promises. The dangers. Your choice.
What do these last words have to do with checking off your "Accomplishment" list? Everything. How you go about accomplishing your goals, your plans speak volumes about who you are and what you value. We can never justify our words or behaviors that really are selfish, self-serving with a 'it's for the greater good'. Whose good? Is it really possible to do the wrong thing, for the wrong reason, and still have it be 'for the good'? (Rhetorical question.)
Personally, I love checking off those things that I really wanted to accomplish. Completing one's goals is very satisfying. But it has to be filtered through our words and behaviors. Method is always trumped by character traits.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
"Apart from me you can do nothing..."
These are Jesus words in John. However, they are not our excuse or license for bad behavior - not a glee that it will never be 'my fault', a 'not my problem'. But also it isn't a way to shift our responsibility. If we stop a moment and think, then it would be obvious that the Lord is also telling us to be with Him. Yes?
"Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can
bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you
[bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain
in Me. [a]I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who
remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart
from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do
nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like
a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather
such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are
vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever
you wish and it will be done for you." (John 15:4-7, AMP)
Talk about a meaty 4 verses! In these verses are promises, understanding, choices, results. We are told what we need to do: 'Remain in Me (Jesus)' and then the explanation is given - our why of remaining (abiding): bearing fruit. It also implies that this is a position/status that we current ARE in and we are told to stay in this relationship. We are also told what will happen if we choose not to abide in the Lord: thrown out/wither/die/burned. Then the final verse that we like to quote so often: 'ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.'
I think the main point is the start - remain in Him. It is always our choice, our decision to walk with the Lord. He does not make it difficult for us and He tells us in so many scriptures to BE with Him. He tells us what to do to continue walking with Him. He tells us what happens when we do and when we don't. Soooo... why don't we? We may start but sometimes we get off the path. Sometimes it's purposeful... sometimes unintentional. The last state is controllable. We need to be intentional! But intentional is not defined as stressful.
If you are standing out of relationship, you can always return. The Lord is very aware of the seductions and temptations we face (Hebrews 4:15) and He stands ready to help us through these temptations (1Corinthians 10:13). The Holy Spirit is also available to assist us - we just have to confess our sin, resolve not to repeat the behavior and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).
There is absolutely NO NEED to be apart from Him. But thankfully, when we do and recognize this - He has already provided a way back!
"Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can
bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you
[bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain
in Me. [a]I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who
remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart
from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do
nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like
a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather
such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are
vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever
you wish and it will be done for you." (John 15:4-7, AMP)
Talk about a meaty 4 verses! In these verses are promises, understanding, choices, results. We are told what we need to do: 'Remain in Me (Jesus)' and then the explanation is given - our why of remaining (abiding): bearing fruit. It also implies that this is a position/status that we current ARE in and we are told to stay in this relationship. We are also told what will happen if we choose not to abide in the Lord: thrown out/wither/die/burned. Then the final verse that we like to quote so often: 'ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.'
I think the main point is the start - remain in Him. It is always our choice, our decision to walk with the Lord. He does not make it difficult for us and He tells us in so many scriptures to BE with Him. He tells us what to do to continue walking with Him. He tells us what happens when we do and when we don't. Soooo... why don't we? We may start but sometimes we get off the path. Sometimes it's purposeful... sometimes unintentional. The last state is controllable. We need to be intentional! But intentional is not defined as stressful.
If you are standing out of relationship, you can always return. The Lord is very aware of the seductions and temptations we face (Hebrews 4:15) and He stands ready to help us through these temptations (1Corinthians 10:13). The Holy Spirit is also available to assist us - we just have to confess our sin, resolve not to repeat the behavior and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).
There is absolutely NO NEED to be apart from Him. But thankfully, when we do and recognize this - He has already provided a way back!
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Punishment and Love
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear
has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been
perfected in love." (1John 4:18)
has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been
perfected in love." (1John 4:18)
Ever connected fear and punishment? How about the connection between faith and love? Both of these combinations typically influence us daily... whether or not we realize or acknowledge this. Look back on just the last couple of days... can you see some of the actions and your words that can be traced back to our motivation based in fear, punishment, faith, love?
Bottom line is that we are a self-preservation creation - though I defy that this was the Father's initial intent. Remember back to the when Adam and Eve sinned - what was Adam's response? "And he said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid," (Genesis 3:10, ESV). Adam and Eve's motivation was fear. I doubt that they realized the consequences of their act and what the ramifications would be. Fear - Punishment. They go hand in hand. Granted. Not every 'fear' we experience is based on the subsequent reaction to fear - punishment. But many of our fear actions is concern about the punishment that may/will occur.
When you consider 'love' do you ever have a concern that fear or punishment will be the end result? No. That's because love and fear do not coexist. They can't. The scripture states that perfect love casts out fear. The problem? We are always in the state of perfecting, it's never one and done. That's why fear can lurks around the edges. We can grow in love however and in this growth, we are in a perfecting process.
GotQuestions.com states:
"The Bible says that “love is of God” and “God is love” (1John 4:7–8);
in other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is.
Everything God does is impelled and influenced by His love."
That is one of the most succinct comment about God and love. Now if you remember that you were created in love by God, then love is part of your DNA. You can choose to walk, live, be love in the world you live in. Love is the antithesis of fear and punishment. And this only begins to scratch the surface of this discussion. But... please remember you can choose to act in love rather than act in fear.
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