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| Some Words are Tough to Chew courtesy free clip art |
Some of Jesus
words are too tough to chew for some (most) people.
Luke 9:23 Then he
said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me.
One Example Of A
Wrong Decision.
In 1948 there was
a man who went down to the altar for he was convicted of sin in his life. Others in the family had already repented and
received Christ as their savior. This man was struggling within for he didn’t
want to give up his style of living. Over
the next days the struggle continued until one night the preacher spoke of
fasting and that made his decision for him.
As we were
talking about serving GOD he said, “If that is what they believe (speaking
about fasting) then I don’t want anything to do with it.” He went on and said, “I promised myself long
ago that I would never do without anything I wanted so I ain’t going back to
that church again.”
He was a man of
his word and didn’t return again.
The rest of his
life was spent trying to satisfy his wants which revolved around committing
adultery and boozing. Outside of denying
Christ he was a friendly, outgoing, person who married a Christian woman while
not altogether faithful to her she lived with him till his death.
He died a few years
ago and whether he ever came to the point where he could deny himself - - only
he and GOD know the answer.
Tough Question
Matthew 16:26 What do you benefit if you
gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your
soul?
While no one will
gain the whole world we find many who try to excel in certain fields by
compromising their service to GOD.
Christianity is
to be lived where “The rubber meets the road” as the idiom goes.
My Theology
How does my
purported theology match up with Paul the main Theologist of the scriptures?
Of course we must
include the other writers of the New Testament for they fill in some of the
blanks not addressed by Paul.
Our belief system (theology) should control
our conduct but such is not always the case. There are times when we venture outside the
Christian modus operandi and expect what some call “Greasy Grace” to compensate
for lax behavior.
Living in the
“Greasy Grace” state can become addictive and become what we now consider to be
the norm for Christians.
Tis a faulty
Theology that relies upon grace given by GOD to cover a sinful life style and
is invoked (when convicted) by one who is deceiving themselves into thinking a
little wrong is alright.
I Want It All
Matthew. 6:24 No one can serve two
masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
By the same token
we can’t serve GOD and the devil at the same time and please GOD.
Shall we call it
what it is, “Unacceptable Behavior.”
It can be a
desire in one’s heart to want to take some “Time Off” from walking upright
before the Lord.
Too late we find
that exercise leads us to the “Land of Woe” and we discover while the “Blood of
the Lamb” gives forgiveness it doesn’t expunge the memory of the offence nor
the damage it has done.
Doing It Right
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
This putting on
the Christian way is the place to start realizing that there is an
inexhaustible supply of temptations and so many are tailor made just for you.
Seems like what
the eye doesn’t see the mind creates. They
stimulate the hunger and thirst for things that are hindrances to holy living. It is an appetite problem and salivating at
the lustful thoughts.
The Only Answer
Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.”
Another way of
saying this is; if you follow the plain truth as set forth in the scriptures
your spirit and mind won’t adjudge you as a spiritual failure.
Well as I said
some of the programs laid out by Jesus are hard on the flesh only when you
don’t avail yourself to GOD’S provisions for success.
Prayer; “Lord,
deliver me from me.”
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