Love

Brethren, we must understand love. It is the character of a Christian. It is the life of and breath of the believer. The gospel is love to us. The Bible, the Word of God, is God's letter of love to His people. What wondrous love is this? 


Friends, while I believe the emphasis of love is very good, I fear we don't really understand love. We don't actually comprehend what it means to love. Let me ask you...Have you ever considered what love actually costs? Do you know what love truly is? 


I would like to ask you a few questions: What does freedom cost? Freedom is not free. Countless individuals have laid down their lives to give you the freedom which you now enjoy. 


Have you ever considered what God thinks of sin or what God think of the breaking of His law? Let me tell you what God thinks of sin...He sent His only begotten son to die, He forsook Him, He completely emptied the cup of wrath upon Him. He caused Him to experience the entirety of man's punishment for sin. Jesus Christ died because no one can keep the law perfectly. If we could have kept the law without error, we wouldn't need Jesus Christ. We wouldn't need a Savior. But because we are completely unable to keep God's law and entirely deficient, because there is nothing good in us, The Only Begotten of the Father died to make us acceptable in God's sight. This is what God thinks of the breaking of His Law. His son died. 


So, to those that say, "we no longer have to keep the Law. We are free. God has set me free from the bondage of the Law." You are dead wrong. Yes, the Law can't save you. Yes, those that trust the Law for life and salvation are in a miserable state. But, brethren, the truth of the matter is, we are no longer under the bondage of sin. Sin no longer can have the mastery over us because we belong to another, and because our hearts are full of gratitude and love for our redeemer, we desire to obey Him. Picture this: a young child, wanting to bring his dad a cookie, runs to his dad with all excitement to bring this small gift of love. Right before he makes it to his waiting dad, he trips and falls and the cookie lands in the mud. What does the dad do, but take the cookie, brush off the mud, thank their loving child, and take a bite out of the cookie. Now, do we love the child for the filthy cookie that they just brought us? No, we love them because they are our child. So, the deeds which we do, the keeping of the Law does not make God love us. He loves us because we are His children. But, that doesn't mean we stop bringing our filthy cookies or "good" deeds to the Lord. In fact, we were saved by grace being enabled to keep the Law through Christ. [Ephesians 2:8-10] Praise the Lord. 


God thinks much of sin, even to the point of giving His son. Don't sweep it under the rug. Yes, little "white lies" are very important. Christ went to the cross for that little lie. Don't make sin less then it is. Hell burns for sinners. Hell burned for you, but Christ chose to save you by His grace. 


Now, to those that are so eager to abolish the Law so that we no longer have to keep it or so that we don't have to be worried about keeping it, I ask you one simple question: why are you so eager to get rid of God's Law? Why are you so desirous to abolish God's Word? Why don't you want to keep God's law? It seems that you want to have God be God to you, but you don't want Him to demand too much of you.  Do you actually think God would get rid of His law? If you have a child and you love Him a lot, are you going to take away all rules out of His life? Are you going to say, "You know, you don't have to obey my words." That is not love. That is not grace. God wants our life, "taking into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 


So, what does love cost? It cost the Blood of Jesus Christ. 


What is love? God is love. God's name of love has never been done away with. When he was commanding the murder of men, women, and children in the Old Testament, he was just as much love as he is in the New Testament. There is only one God. Don't be deceived. By love, we think of tolerance. We think of letting people do whatever they want. Our favorite phrase is: "Whatever floats your boat." Excuse me!!! That is strictly against the Scriptures. The Lord gave us a standard by which we must live. God gave us a Letter of Love to direct us how to know Him and enjoy Him. Love is not letting people continue in sin. Love died to take you out of sin. Now, he writes His Law on our hearts. What law? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself." [Deuteronomy 6:5] How? Keep His commandment. "If you love me, you will keep my commandment." [John 14:15]


Brethren, I wrote this in love. I am deeply concerned that we trample under foot the blood of Jesus Christ by our misunderstanding of love. If you doubt what I am saying, read the Bible. It says the same thing. "Love never fails." So, let us stop failing to keep God's Law. Jesus Christ, Love, delighted to do the will of His Father. He delighted to obey God's commands, and the man that was after God's own heart, said: "His delight is in the Law of the Lord." Psalm 1 


Friends, love one another. Encourage each other in good deeds. Strengthen one another in the keeping of God's law, and rely upon God's strength, which we have through Jesus Christ.


The Lord be with you.

Soli Deo Gloria

I would like to clarify why I wrote this post. I am deeply concerned; however, this post came completely out of my own meditation. I was driving home and I was meditating on the Love of God. My thought is, if we meditate on the Love of God, we will become more loving. 

A Hallmark of Courage

Dearly Beloved, please bare with me as I tell you a story of courage...


Today, I and many others were given an incredible example of courage. There was no knight in shining armor, no soldier with the medal of honor around his neck, no earthly foe that had been vanquished. There weren't thousands of people waiting to welcome home a hero. The President was not waiting to congratulate a veteran. No, the courage I have seen today is altogether different. No earthly battle had been fought, no earthly victory had been won. Rather, it was a spiritual battle that was fought, and it was an eternal victory that was won.


Now, whereas there was no multitude of people, no welcoming parade, there was an innumerable number of angels welcoming home a conquering warrior. There was a tender father ushering His servant into His rest. 


Today, a young man scarcely thirteen years of age, went home to be with the Lord. Over the past year, I have witnessed this young man look at death in the face and stand immovable. He could boldly look at death and proclaim, "Oh death where is your sting; oh grave, where is your victory." He could lift his eyes to Heaven and utter, "I know that if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed, I have a building not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens." He could proudly proclaim, "I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." This young man met death, he crossed the Jordan, he took His final journey and now He sits whole in the presence of the Lord. This is courage.


This young man died of a very progressive form of brain cancer. At the time of diagnosis, he was given six months to live. However, He lived approximately four months beyond the deadline. He brought cheer and happiness to all who knew him. And whereas he lost most bodily function before death due to the cancer, this young man is now whole, complete, and perfect in the presence of his Lord.


Take heed, brethren. Take heed. We all fade as the grass. It is appointed for everyone to die. We have been given an example of courage today. Let this serve as a wake up call to redeem the time we have been given.


Furthermore, I want to ask you: Are you living life for God or for you? Will you hear the words: "Well done good and faithful servant?" Are you living courageously? Are you fighting the fight? Brethren, "Lay aside the sin that doth so easily besets you and run with patience the race that is set before you."


This young man, fought and won. He ran and finished his course. He courageously met death. He followed after the Lord Jesus Christ that conquered death for us. Take heart. Take heart! He has now joined the cloud of witnesses pointing you to Heaven. Run the race.

Michael Moede 

Passed Away at thirteen years of age,

 January 26, 

In the year of our Lord,

2012

What is courage my dear lad

But having the strength to stand

What is courage but to have 

An unwavering hand.

Courage proudly looks at death

And does not affright

Courage gladly gives up breath

And does not take flight.

Soli Deo Gloria

A Good Name

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." [Proverbs 22:1]


This verse is very convicting. 


First, gold and silver, great riches are very easy to gain in comparison with a good name. Once a good name is lost, it is extremely hard to regain it. Whereas, if you lose your possessions, your riches, you can gain them again by hard work and ingenuity. This is not true of a good name. It is extremely hard to regain trust among your brethren. Therefore, a good name is better than great riches. 


Second, this passage has a double meaning for me. The one above is excellent; however, I apply it to my relationship with God. By professing the name of Jesus Christ, we attribute what we say, what we do, what we think, to our Lord. It is as if we are saying, "What I just said, what I just did, what I just thought, all of it, is what Christ would have said, thought, and done." That is very scary. We are representing the name of Jesus Christ. 


I feel that so often I dishonor God's good name with my much speaking, with my great pride, with my heart of idolatry. I continually attribute my life of sin to the God of glory by professing His name. I tarnish God's reputation among the heathen that know not God by my great wickedness. I give great occasion for the Lord's name to be trampled under foot by Satan and all his children. 


We need to beware. We will some day give an account for every idle word that proceedeth out of our mouths. We often speak out of what fills our heart. In the gospel of Mark, it says, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." "Watch over your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life." We need to guard our lips, our heart, our mind. Proverbs, in another place, tells us to put a knife to our throat when we stand before a king. Beloved, we are standing before the awesome presence of our Lord continually. He is everywhere present. Read Psalm 139. 


So, beloved, we need to guard with all diligence our heart so our Lord's name is not dishonored. We need to be jealous for our Lord's name. Let us resolve together to honor God's name in thought, word, and deed. Let us resolve to live Coram Deo, before the face of God. Let us resolve to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 


Let us implore the Lord's help and protect the good name of the Lord that we profess. 


The Lord be with all of you.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Lord Is Our Sustainer

Brethren, we can take heart. Our God is mighty to save. He is strong and mighty and will hold us up. Praise the Lord. 


When we are sad and downcast, God will pick us up. When we are lonely and separated from friends and family, God is there as a friend to comfort us. In the thickest battles, the hardest trials, God is there. The Lord is our sustainer. If the burden is too heavy to bare, Christ says, "Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." [Matthew 11:28]


The Lord is our shepherd to lead, our strength to defend, our friend to aid. He continually watches over us and guides us. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we can fear no evil, for God is with us. His rod and staff, they comfort us. [Psalm 23]


The Lord gives kingdoms for us. "For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."[Isaiah 43:3] He moves Heaven and earth for His people. He ever liveth to make intercession for us. [Hebrews 7:25] The Lord is our sustainer. In Him do we live, move, and have our being. [Acts 17:28]


The Lord declares His love for us:


Jeremiah 31:3
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."


The Lord declares His care for us:


Isaiah 41:10

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

Psalm 91:4

"He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

The Lord declares His protection for us:

Proverbs 18:10

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe."

Psalm 32:7

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 91:11

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

The Lord declares His sympathy for us:

Hebrews 4:15

"For we have not an high priest than cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet with out sin."

The Lord gives us life:

Isaiah 53:4-5

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."

John 10:28

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

The Lord declares that He will bring back His wayward sheep:

Luke 15:4

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"

THE LORD IS OUR SUSTAINER:

Isaiah 49:15

"Can a women forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

The Lord is indeed our sustainer. The whole of Scripture is God's letter of love to His people. Everything that happens, everything that takes place on this earth is for the strengthening of God's people and to bring God glory. Deuteronomy 13:3 : "For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

Stand fast brethren. Seek the Lord. Follow after God. If you see friends and family forsake you, be of good cheer, God is with you. If grievous trials vex your soul, God will not give you more that you can bare. He is there and will lift you up. Take heart, dearly beloved. Take heart. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Praise the Lord. 

Soli Deo Gloria

Encouragement From The Word of God

When I was very young, I had many fears and troubles. Everything scared me. However, by the grace of God, during one of my daily devotions, I came upon the following verse. When I am troubled, frightened, or down, I quote it. God used His Word in my life. I hope and pray that he will use it in yours...


"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Soli Deo Gloria

Oh my Lord, You Search and You Know Me

This is the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. It is extremely encouraging and comforting. Our High Priest, our infinite God is everywhere, watching over us. He know our ways and he directs them. If we feel alone, our God is with us. If we run from our God, he is the Great Shepherd that leaves the other sheep and finds us. Though we may feel alone, though the world is against us, though we may be in some remote place, God is there. God directs, God beholds, God guards His people. So, take heart dear brother and sister. Take heart, your God is there to hold you up. 

Oh my Lord, You search and You know me

You know when I sit, You know when I rise 

You know what I think, You know where I'm going

Nothing oh Lord, can hide from your eyes

You close me in, behind and before me

You shield me with Your mighty hand 

Such knowledge is to wonderful for me 

Too much for me to understand

Where can I go to flee from Your Spirit?

And from Your presence where can I hide?

Behold up in heaven You're there beside me

In the depths of the darkness You're by my side

And if I rise on the wings of the morning

Or settle on the far side of the sea

Even there Your hand will guide me

For Your right hand is holding me

And if I say the darkness will hide me

The night will shine is bright as day

So search me Lord and lovingly lead me 

In you everlasting Way

Soli Deo Gloria 

Eloquence in Writing

The following is a letter written by the great Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector of England) to his daughter. His daughter was the wife of a very good friend of Cromwell's, Colonel Ireton. Notice the tones of this letter. Fathers don't talk this way to their children anymore. In fact, we use casual expressions in order to communicate. Instead of intelligent thought and warm letters, we have seen a loss of beauty in the manner by which people communicate. 

I hope you enjoy this letter as much as I. May we see a rise of this kind of communication once again, where friend encourages friend in the things of God. God is a God of great beauty. May that beauty be reflected in every area of our lives.

"For my beloved Daughter, Bridget Ireton, at Cornbery, 

the General's Quarters: These. 

       "Dear Daughter,

     "I write not to thy husband; partly to avoid trouble, for one line of mine begets many of his, which I doube makes him sit up too late; partly because I am myself indisposed [i.e. not in the mood] at this time, having some other considerations.

     "Your friends at Ely are well: your sister Claypole is, I trust in mercy, exercised with some perplexed thoughts, She sees her vanity and carnal mind; bewailing it: she seeks after (as I hope also) what will satisfy. And thus to be a seeker is to be one of the best sect next to a finder; and such a one shall every faithful humble seeker be at the end. Happy seeker, happy finder. 

     "Who ever tasted that the Lord is gracious, without some sense of self, vanity, and badness? Who ever tasted that graciousness of His, and could go less in desire? Dear Heart, press on; let not thy Husband, let not anything cool thy affections after Christ. I hope he [thy husband] will be an occasion to inflame them. That which is best worthy of love in thy Husband is that of the image of Christ he bears. Look on that, and love it best, and all the rest for that. I pray for thee and him; do so for me. 

     "My service and dear affections to the General and Generaless. I hear she is very kind to thee; it adds to all other obligations. I am

"Thy dear Father,

                                         "Oliver Cromwell."

Dear Reader, we can not only learn much about writing style and eloquence from this excellent letter, but we can also learn much about Christianity, how we ought to live. Oliver Cromwell is admonishing his daughter to live a godly life, to have godly affections, to love her husband. This is what fathers ought to be doing. Furthermore, for those that are not married, we can learn to admonish, encourage, and build up our friends. I hope you take heed to the teachings of this wonderful letter. May the Lord richly bless you.

Soli Deo Gloria 

What Legacy Will You Leave

Dear Reader,


It is a grand and glorious new year. The beginning of each year reminds us of God's goodness and mercy. It reminds us of where we have come and were we need to go. 


The year is before you. What are you going to do with it?


What legacy will you leave behind? What story will you right? Will you stay in the same spot, standing there, watching the world go by? What battles will you fight? What men will you mentor? Which people will mentor you? What books will you read? What life will you lead?


Will you honor the Lord or will you blaspheme the name of the Lord? What life are you building? What are you doing with the life you have been given? Are you walking uprightly? Are you living Coram Deo?


Dear Reader, I know how hard the fight can be. I know the battle is heavy. We are fighting it together. It is very hard to move forward, but don't be cast down. Lift up the feeble knees and the hands that hang down. Gird up your loins. You are fighting the Lord's battles. You are waging a war that will affect many generation. The choices you make today will change the lives of your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. Are you living your life for God?


You need to pray:
- for God's leading
- for humility
- for strength
- for the opening of the Word
- that the Lord leads you not into temptation but delivers you from evil
- that you are living according to God's word and not your own rules. (Reader, it is not okay to substantiate what you believe from the Scriptures. You have to find out what to believe from the Scriptures. So many people seek to justify themselves and what they think is right from the Word of God. Job attempted this, and he failed miserably. We cannot justify ourselves before the face of God. We need to justify God. God is just and the justifier. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He alone mandates what we are to do. "How shall a young man cleanse his way but by doing what is right in his own eyes." Wait!!! That is not what the verse says. It says he must take heed to the Word of God. [Psalm 119:9] So, you need to live according to the Word of God, if you want His blessing, if you want to cleanse your way.)


You need to study the Word:
- to know what is required of you
- to know how to please your God
- to know how to run


You need to act:
- to fight the battle
- to run the race
- to redeem the time
- to win souls for Christ
- to take dominion over politics, religion, science, medicine - to take dominion over every area of life.
- to honor the Lord
- to obtain a crown in Heaven


As a way of warning, if you cannot look up to your Heavenly Father and ask for His blessing in what you are doing, than you should not be doing it. Even though the decision you make today seems small and inconsequential, it could change your life forever.


Reader, as you embark on this New Year, plan your steps. Set out a goal for yourself, and ask God to bless your way. Aim high. I don't know the original source of the following statement, but one of my friends once said: "Aim for the stars and you might land on the moon."


Be encouraged. You may have failed this past year. You may have done nothing worth while. You may have lead the life of ease. May today be the last day of that life. May today be the start of a new beginning for you. Don't waist the time. What legacy are you going to leave? What will people remember you by? What will your grandchildren remember? It doesn't matter if you are married or not. You need to be planning now. You need to be preparing now. Each morning, you need to ask yourself: how can I redeem the time today?


May you fight harder and run faster. May you pray more and study with diligence. Do not be an almost Christian. May the God of Peace go with you.

Soli Deo Gloria