Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Hung By The Tongue: Freewill
Hung By The Tongue: Freewill: "FreewillCan we handle the consequences? God gave us freewill to believe in Him or not. Freewill is something we do voluntarily and/or willi..."
Freewill
Freewill
Can we handle the consequences?
God gave us freewill to believe in Him or not. Freewill is something we do voluntarily and/or willingly rather than by force. The freewill we are given lets us choose everything we do in life (good or bad). We all like having a choice - right?
This good feeling is wounded, when we realize our choices have consequences. Our freewill can affect us and everyone around us, even people we don’t know.
Let’s take a person who chooses to drink a few beers. Hours later and many beers after, this person decides to drive home. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s their choice.
Drinking and driving is never a good idea. Many death related accidents happen every day because of this choice. It can cripple or kill the drunk driver, thus affecting everyone this person knows. The innocent people in the other car can be killed, injured, or mutilated. This will touch everyone this person knows. It can leave babies without fathers, mothers without sons, husbands without wives and the list goes on.
Now we may think anyone who makes bad choices should have their freewill took away from them. If this was to happen, there would be no freewill because we all make bad choices at one time or another.
When Jesus was approached with the woman taken in adultery and asked if she should be stoned to death, He said ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).’ All of her accusers left one by one and when Jesus asked her if anyone was left to condemn her ‘She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).’
Oh how we love our freedom and liberty. But . . .
Can we handle the consequences?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Soul Condition
Just dropped in to see what condition your condition is in. Nothing in this world matters, but your soul. What condition is yours in???
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thinking
I guess it's more of a question. Do we as Christians force ourselves on people, causing them to hate us? Do we think of ourselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? Hopefully on my next journal entry, I'll have an answer to all these questions.
I going to try and answer these questions one by one from my heart. I can't answer for all Christians, just me. I would say, "God forbid", to any Christian that would try to force Jesus down someone's throat. If I start talking about Jesus and someone starts debating me on the subject and we confer back and forth, is this force? No, but I should not let it continue into an argument. If I write something down, or put it on a social web, everyone is free to read or not read. If I leave a flyer or booklet somewhere about Jesus, the same holds true here. If I'm in a public forum and I am talking about Jesus, you are free to walk away or just not listen. I have hope and believe the people who do read, are already wanting to know more, wanting to understand more, about this man called Jesus. This is not force, it is making available the Good News of Jesus.
Do Christians think of theirselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? I do not think of myself as all mighty and powerful, in fact, just the opposite. I am a sinner and feel undeserving everyday for what Jesus has done for me. Jesus died on the cross and tore the veil in half that separated me from having a personal relationship with God. He took the place of the sacrifical lamb (the blood) that was given for my sin every year. I have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart to help me in all things. No-one had this, not even His disciples, until Jesus had died and and resurrected. We no longer have to go through the enourmous mosaic rituals of the old testament. Mighty and powerful belong to Jesus only.
Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."
The disciples are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation. Matthew Henry's commentary http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=40&c=10
What does all this mean? It means we must spread the gospel, don't argue about it, to those who don't want to hear, we must show them that their current state is dangerous.
I going to try and answer these questions one by one from my heart. I can't answer for all Christians, just me. I would say, "God forbid", to any Christian that would try to force Jesus down someone's throat. If I start talking about Jesus and someone starts debating me on the subject and we confer back and forth, is this force? No, but I should not let it continue into an argument. If I write something down, or put it on a social web, everyone is free to read or not read. If I leave a flyer or booklet somewhere about Jesus, the same holds true here. If I'm in a public forum and I am talking about Jesus, you are free to walk away or just not listen. I have hope and believe the people who do read, are already wanting to know more, wanting to understand more, about this man called Jesus. This is not force, it is making available the Good News of Jesus.
Do Christians think of theirselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? I do not think of myself as all mighty and powerful, in fact, just the opposite. I am a sinner and feel undeserving everyday for what Jesus has done for me. Jesus died on the cross and tore the veil in half that separated me from having a personal relationship with God. He took the place of the sacrifical lamb (the blood) that was given for my sin every year. I have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart to help me in all things. No-one had this, not even His disciples, until Jesus had died and and resurrected. We no longer have to go through the enourmous mosaic rituals of the old testament. Mighty and powerful belong to Jesus only.
Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."
The disciples are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation. Matthew Henry's commentary http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=40&c=10
What does all this mean? It means we must spread the gospel, don't argue about it, to those who don't want to hear, we must show them that their current state is dangerous.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Hate
I was thinking about the last sentence I wrote on my last blog, "Jesus was hated without cause, so don't try to be hated and don't give the world a cause to hate you."
A very strong statement! I never really thought that anyone would try to be hated or give someone else a reason to hate them. I'm more of the peacemaker type and want people to like me, in fear that they probably don't. Sometimes, I do get Hung by the Tongue though.
I know all the rules, I should think before I speak, be silent until someone speaks to me, be a good listener, etc. Sometimes I just start talking, not thinking, and before I know it, no one is listening. Everybody is carrying on another conversation with someone else. Now what does that tell you?
I guess it's more of a question. Do we as Christians force ourselves on people, causing them to hate us? Do we think of ourselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? Hopefully on my next journal entry, I'll have an answer to all these questions.
A very strong statement! I never really thought that anyone would try to be hated or give someone else a reason to hate them. I'm more of the peacemaker type and want people to like me, in fear that they probably don't. Sometimes, I do get Hung by the Tongue though.
I know all the rules, I should think before I speak, be silent until someone speaks to me, be a good listener, etc. Sometimes I just start talking, not thinking, and before I know it, no one is listening. Everybody is carrying on another conversation with someone else. Now what does that tell you?
I guess it's more of a question. Do we as Christians force ourselves on people, causing them to hate us? Do we think of ourselves as all mighty and powerful to cause the world to hate us? Does Matthew 10:14 give us any answers to these questions? Hopefully on my next journal entry, I'll have an answer to all these questions.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Leaving
St. John chapter 15 verses 1-8 is about Jesus teaching His disciples that when He is gone, they must still abide in Him and bear fruit or they could be cast out. We must re-examine ourselves daily to be sure we are still alive in the spirit. The thought of being cast out is a disturbing one. Jesus is gone from His earthly body, but still lives in His word. Our fruit will give glory to God, as it should.
Verses 9-11 is about love and obedience. Jesus tells His disciples "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." When you live in a world where temptations are everywhere you have to keep your eyes open or sin will creep in without you knowing it. Jesus doesn't want this for us. He wants our joy to be full. What a loving Father we have!
Next in verses 12-17, Jesus speaks about the magnitude of His love that we are to reflect. It is a love that will lay down its life for others.
Verses 18-27 is about how no living being has been met, so early on, with such hatred and ever been subjected to such a continuous persecution as Jesus had to suffer. As soon as He was born Herod was ready to kill him and the innocent children of Bethlehem. This horrendous massacre was an example of the sufferings which Jesus Christ would be subject to, and of the hatred that men would pour upon Him.
Hatred (or hate) is an intense feeling of dislike. It may occur in a wide variety of contexts, from hatred of inanimate objects or animals, to hatred of oneself or other people, entire groups of people, people in general, existence, or everything. Though not always, hatred is often associated with feelings of anger.
The disciples are warned that they will bear persecution for being a Christian, but to remember the world hated Jesus before it hated them. He was hated without cause. There was nothing about Jesus that would excite man to hate man. He had no rank or title instead of being lifted above men, he did, in some sense, seem to be below them. The Son of Man had no where to lay his head, even though, the foxes had holes and the birds nests. Jesus was the son of a carpenter, a pheasant of Galilee. He did not rule or have authority over them.
Jesus was hated without cause, so don't try to be hated and don't give the world a cause to hate you.
Verses 9-11 is about love and obedience. Jesus tells His disciples "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." When you live in a world where temptations are everywhere you have to keep your eyes open or sin will creep in without you knowing it. Jesus doesn't want this for us. He wants our joy to be full. What a loving Father we have!
Next in verses 12-17, Jesus speaks about the magnitude of His love that we are to reflect. It is a love that will lay down its life for others.
Verses 18-27 is about how no living being has been met, so early on, with such hatred and ever been subjected to such a continuous persecution as Jesus had to suffer. As soon as He was born Herod was ready to kill him and the innocent children of Bethlehem. This horrendous massacre was an example of the sufferings which Jesus Christ would be subject to, and of the hatred that men would pour upon Him.
Hatred (or hate) is an intense feeling of dislike. It may occur in a wide variety of contexts, from hatred of inanimate objects or animals, to hatred of oneself or other people, entire groups of people, people in general, existence, or everything. Though not always, hatred is often associated with feelings of anger.
The disciples are warned that they will bear persecution for being a Christian, but to remember the world hated Jesus before it hated them. He was hated without cause. There was nothing about Jesus that would excite man to hate man. He had no rank or title instead of being lifted above men, he did, in some sense, seem to be below them. The Son of Man had no where to lay his head, even though, the foxes had holes and the birds nests. Jesus was the son of a carpenter, a pheasant of Galilee. He did not rule or have authority over them.
Jesus was hated without cause, so don't try to be hated and don't give the world a cause to hate you.
Challenge
Wednesday night our pastor, Forrest, challenged us to journal our thoughts after reading and meditating on what we read in the Bible. This will be a good thing for me, because I'm not one to just do something. I need that challenge, that summons, that push, that suggestion to get me fired up!
Since I am again, attempting to teach adult Sunday school class, this will be the start of my journal. We are in St. John 15: 18-27, which is about the world hating Jesus first and then his disciples. I really want to teach others with a style that will reach their hearts with love and their minds with understanding. I rely on my Saviour, Jesus Christ for this.
Since I am again, attempting to teach adult Sunday school class, this will be the start of my journal. We are in St. John 15: 18-27, which is about the world hating Jesus first and then his disciples. I really want to teach others with a style that will reach their hearts with love and their minds with understanding. I rely on my Saviour, Jesus Christ for this.
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