Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Infusion and the One Thing

I know several people are currently having infusions or considering having infusions done for their health. These infusions are to fight things like cancer within the body. Most are to keep the disease at bay. These cannot be done daily, but as frequent as possible to help the body fight back. —- I could not help to see the spiritual correlation as I spent time meditating over an important passage of Scripture that I was committing to memory. Like sheep, christians are easily distracted (we’re human). So it is important to try to focus, and narrow things down to one thing to rein us in. I’m going to paraphrase this passage that Paul felt was very important. He wrote a lot of important words that have been vital to the growth of the believer. In Philippians 3:10-14 (heavily paraphrased) “Listen, let’s narrow this thing down. I want to know Christ. That is what is essential. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. I mean, that is where the power is. It is the power that defeated death. I also want to feel what he went through even becoming like him in his death. He died for sin, but I want to die to sin. I want to feel that. Because, though undeservedly so, I want to somehow attain the resurrection from the dead. Now, hang on! I am not being presumptuous in this. It’s not like I have already obtained this or already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I am going for it like it depends on me. Listen brothers, I do not think for a second that I have arrived. Do you want to know what makes me tick? Do you want to know what makes me get up in the morning and get after it? There is this one thing I do: I forget what is behind me. I forget my checkered past. I forget where I’ve blown it. I push ahead with all I’ve got . I press on toward the goal to win the prize. I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’m not falling in line. I’m not following the crowd. I’m running to win the first place trophy for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”—- I need an infusion everyday of this “one thing” to keep the evil within me at bay. Are you hiding God’s Word in your heart? It fights heart decay. And God is after your heart! We are told to guard the heart, because “the heart is the well-spring of life.”(Prov.4:23b)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Revival or Riot

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.---Acts 19:32Demetrius, a silver smith, was worried about his idol-making business as more and more people put their faith in Christ. His was a big-business in that part of Asia and employed a lot of people. Give him credit for one thing: he knew that those accepting Christ as their Lord God would have no need for a bunch of man-made gods. He understood that their lifestyles would change upon conversion. Consequently, he stirred up a riot, and we see what is comical and common today. People were screaming and hating on christians, and most of them didn’t even know what they were talking about. —- If the world understood the breadth of christianity, then they would understand that we are FOR people. Consider current events: the abortion business is being exposed. Just watch for the demonizing of christians when they stand up for life. Instead of dealing with those behind this evil business (which includes the silent majority of media and politicians keeping their mouths shut), the initial attack is on the people exposing the dirty business for what it is. —- Yet, there will be a lot of noise from people that have no clue of what is going on. There are two responses to truth in crowded assemblies: Revival or Riot. If we accept the wonderful truth of the Gospel, then we experience a Great Awakening. If we reject the truth of the Gospel, then we continue our rebellion against God. Don’t be like those making a lot of noise, and don’t even know what they’re yelling about. At least listen. Check out the Gospel story for yourself.