John 3:16-21
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
19 "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. 20 Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. 21 But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."
We have all heard the saying that it doesn’t matter what a man or woman has done, Christ can and will save them if they accept Him. Now that’s true and the scriptures above enforce that.
And most people are aware that the Apostle Paul suffered with something that he thought was causing him to sin, so he repeatedly prayed to have it removed, but Jesus told him:
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
And in the Bible it says that His forgiveness was once and for all:
Heb 7:26-27
27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
So, when we come to Christ we can accept Him and be forgiven, but there is absolutely no way that we can or need to remember EVERYTHING that we have done in the past, otherwise we don’t believe that His sacrifice was sufficient and we want him to do it every time we sin, and that’s not possible; but faith in what has been done for us is.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Scriptural Rule of Thumb: “We are saved not by who we are or what we have done in the past or will do in the future, but by Jesus Christ and who He was and Who He is and will always be in the future, and what He has done for us.”
There’s no question that Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ. And the Bible clearly teaches that when the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus. So, if the only way to Salvation is through Jesus, then the only way out of Salvation is through Him too!
Many religions tell you that if you don’t behave a certain way, then you’re OUT! But that’s not what you read in:
John 3:16-18
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
So, you get out like you got in.
Christ didn’t come to say: Okay, I’ll save you at the first (by forgiving you for what you’ve done just in the past only) but the minute you don’t do everything right, then you’re out. It’s up to you now! (as if you had the power to save yourself in the first place!) Only Jesus does.
Acts 26:16-18
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
NIV
Now, that very clearly says that when you’re saved you receive the forgiveness of your sins and a place in Heaven because of your faith in Jesus.
2 Cor 12:7-9
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
NIV
This was said by Jesus to Paul and in it He said “My grace is sufficient”. Now what part of that don’t people understand? To me that says “you didn’t have to be perfect to be saved, and you won’t ever have to be perfect to remain saved, my grace is bigger and fuller than that and it grows larger to accommodate your weaknesses”.
Now, Paul, even though at times was guided by the Spirit, he was also human, and at times he struggled with the human ability to maintain salvation, but it is important to recognize that Jesus didn’t go through all of that so that WE could be in control. The Law did that and failed. Jesus made something more whereby humans could be SAVED! And it’s somewhat normal for us as humans to feel that we can or cannot have some effect on our salvation, but we cannot. It begins and ends with Jesus.
Rom 8:37-39
37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
We do have our own will, and if we decide to no longer rely upon Christ (or believe in Him), then He has nothing to rely upon from us and our reason for Salvation is no longer there, our heart is no longer His.
There are plenty of times that Jesus said “Where is your faith?” In other words, who cares about your behavior, what I’m interested in is your heart, what do you believe in? If it’s in something from yourself (your behavior) then you lose but if your heart is mine, then you win!
In the next scripture Jesus talks to the disciples about having faith that is as small as a mustard seed (that has to be really small!). But, with very little thought I have realized what He was saying. It was don’t think of yourself and how YOU are going to do things, first and foremost have your faith in ME (forgetting about yourself) and then things will happen.
Matt 17:20
20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
NIV
Jesus controls salvation, NOT HUMANS.
Read the following:
Hebrews 10:11-18
11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. 12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God 13 and waited for his enemies to cave in. 14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. 15 The Holy Spirit confirms this:
16 This new plan I'm making with Israel
isn't going to be written on paper,
isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
This time "I'm writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts."
17 He concludes,
I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
18 Once sins are taken care of for good, there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
On the night of the last supper Jesus said:
Matt 26:28-29
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
NIV
Christ clearly has forever forgiven and done away with ALL OF THE SINS of those who accept Him.
Heb 9:22-28
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness .
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
NIV
There’s no question that Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ. And the Bible clearly teaches that when the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus. So, if the only way to Salvation is through Jesus, then the only way out of Salvation is through Him too!
Many religions tell you that if you don’t behave a certain way, then you’re OUT! But that’s not what you read in:
John 3:16-18
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
So, you get out like you got in.
Christ didn’t come to say: Okay, I’ll save you at the first (by forgiving you for what you’ve done just in the past only) but the minute you don’t do everything right, then you’re out. It’s up to you now! (as if you had the power to save yourself in the first place!) Only Jesus does.
Acts 26:16-18
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
NIV
Now, that very clearly says that when you’re saved you receive the forgiveness of your sins and a place in Heaven because of your faith in Jesus.
2 Cor 12:7-9
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
NIV
This was said by Jesus to Paul and in it He said “My grace is sufficient”. Now what part of that don’t people understand? To me that says “you didn’t have to be perfect to be saved, and you won’t ever have to be perfect to remain saved, my grace is bigger and fuller than that and it grows larger to accommodate your weaknesses”.
Now, Paul, even though at times was guided by the Spirit, he was also human, and at times he struggled with the human ability to maintain salvation, but it is important to recognize that Jesus didn’t go through all of that so that WE could be in control. The Law did that and failed. Jesus made something more whereby humans could be SAVED! And it’s somewhat normal for us as humans to feel that we can or cannot have some effect on our salvation, but we cannot. It begins and ends with Jesus.
Rom 8:37-39
37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
We do have our own will, and if we decide to no longer rely upon Christ (or believe in Him), then He has nothing to rely upon from us and our reason for Salvation is no longer there, our heart is no longer His.
There are plenty of times that Jesus said “Where is your faith?” In other words, who cares about your behavior, what I’m interested in is your heart, what do you believe in? If it’s in something from yourself (your behavior) then you lose but if your heart is mine, then you win!
In the next scripture Jesus talks to the disciples about having faith that is as small as a mustard seed (that has to be really small!). But, with very little thought I have realized what He was saying. It was don’t think of yourself and how YOU are going to do things, first and foremost have your faith in ME (forgetting about yourself) and then things will happen.
Matt 17:20
20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
NIV
Jesus controls salvation, NOT HUMANS.
Read the following:
Hebrews 10:11-18
11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. 12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God 13 and waited for his enemies to cave in. 14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. 15 The Holy Spirit confirms this:
16 This new plan I'm making with Israel
isn't going to be written on paper,
isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
This time "I'm writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts."
17 He concludes,
I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
18 Once sins are taken care of for good, there's no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
On the night of the last supper Jesus said:
Matt 26:28-29
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
NIV
Christ clearly has forever forgiven and done away with ALL OF THE SINS of those who accept Him.
Heb 9:22-28
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness .
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
NIV
Love Your Neighbor
I know that I just wrote to you, but when I was going to bed last night I realized that I may not have made this totally clear to you, so I’m writing this one to make sure that I have been clear.
I explained that song by Steve Camp, Don’t tell them Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too, and I explained how it is our role to simply accept people as Jesus does and not to judge them. But, I inadvertently neglected to emphasize how important it is to simply and I mean simply love them.
The Godhead is obviously extremely familiar with love:
Rom 5:7-8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
We, as Christians, are representative of Christ Himself in this world and if Christ gave his life for us because He loved us (when we were unlovable), then we as His representatives we should be loving other people too!
To further explain my point:
Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself .' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV
Love your neighbor as yourself. Love. That is clearly the emphasis. We are to be like Christ. He came because God loved us. And as Christians we are to be the same way.
Now, we have previously discussed how to accept people and that everyone is your neighbor, so this time I think it’s important to focus on love.
What does love mean? It obviously means stepping out of your comfort zone to benefit someone else rather than just ourselves. That is 100% contrary to what this World believes (remember who is running this World).
The Godhead clearly stepped out of it’s comfort zone when Christ came to this Earth to live as a human and be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so we, as Christians, must be willing to do the same thing.
Now what in the world do I mean when I say step out of your comfort zone?
I’m glad that you asked! Picture or imagine this (if you can), YOU are Jesus. You have done everything correctly and then it’s obvious that mankind (that you’ve helped to create) has a problem with sin and they will forever remain separate from you, so they need a solution and YOU agree to be their solution as a perfect sacrifice for them.
That means leaving your Heavenly life and Godly role and your Father to come to Earth as a human to live and grow in a human woman’s stomach and go through birth as a human, and live as a human with people that you created that will hate you and what you say or tell them, make fun of you, speak falsely of you and finally actually crucify you. YOU will experience physical and mental actual pain, anguish and hardship that you never have before…and YOU would agree to do this? I don’t think so. It’s too much to ask. But Jesus did this.
Jesus also told His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. That’s interesting and what does that mean?
Again, I’m glad that you asked! I, for one can only imagine. But, being a human, as He was and that He created who lives in a world that He created, I believe that statement means go for it and do anything that is required of you! Don’t protect yourself or worry about yourself because life goes beyond this, way beyond, and you’ll live it.
So love your neighbor! Everyone! Try and just keep trying! Forget about yourself! Someday you WILL die and when you do you WILL go to Heaven or Hell, but you WILL live on! In pain or pleasure. It’s God’s judgment but YOU GET TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN DESTINATION!
That’s what I mean by saying Get up and out of your manmade box (lifestyle). Things are way different than the World has tried to force you to believe! God is big, real and here! Eternity is real and it’s coming! If people don’t make a choice, then they’ve made a choice!
Our only REAL job, as Christians, is to save others. That’s what Jesus came to do and since we’re Christians it’s our job now. We have to take up our cross (forget yourselves) and follow Him.
It’s a narrow road. Shut-ins, handicapped people and others can no longer be excluded! They may be our cross, but the end result is well worth it! So take up your cross and follow Jesus!
I know that I just wrote to you, but when I was going to bed last night I realized that I may not have made this totally clear to you, so I’m writing this one to make sure that I have been clear.
I explained that song by Steve Camp, Don’t tell them Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too, and I explained how it is our role to simply accept people as Jesus does and not to judge them. But, I inadvertently neglected to emphasize how important it is to simply and I mean simply love them.
The Godhead is obviously extremely familiar with love:
Rom 5:7-8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
We, as Christians, are representative of Christ Himself in this world and if Christ gave his life for us because He loved us (when we were unlovable), then we as His representatives we should be loving other people too!
To further explain my point:
Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself .' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV
Love your neighbor as yourself. Love. That is clearly the emphasis. We are to be like Christ. He came because God loved us. And as Christians we are to be the same way.
Now, we have previously discussed how to accept people and that everyone is your neighbor, so this time I think it’s important to focus on love.
What does love mean? It obviously means stepping out of your comfort zone to benefit someone else rather than just ourselves. That is 100% contrary to what this World believes (remember who is running this World).
The Godhead clearly stepped out of it’s comfort zone when Christ came to this Earth to live as a human and be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so we, as Christians, must be willing to do the same thing.
Now what in the world do I mean when I say step out of your comfort zone?
I’m glad that you asked! Picture or imagine this (if you can), YOU are Jesus. You have done everything correctly and then it’s obvious that mankind (that you’ve helped to create) has a problem with sin and they will forever remain separate from you, so they need a solution and YOU agree to be their solution as a perfect sacrifice for them.
That means leaving your Heavenly life and Godly role and your Father to come to Earth as a human to live and grow in a human woman’s stomach and go through birth as a human, and live as a human with people that you created that will hate you and what you say or tell them, make fun of you, speak falsely of you and finally actually crucify you. YOU will experience physical and mental actual pain, anguish and hardship that you never have before…and YOU would agree to do this? I don’t think so. It’s too much to ask. But Jesus did this.
Jesus also told His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. That’s interesting and what does that mean?
Again, I’m glad that you asked! I, for one can only imagine. But, being a human, as He was and that He created who lives in a world that He created, I believe that statement means go for it and do anything that is required of you! Don’t protect yourself or worry about yourself because life goes beyond this, way beyond, and you’ll live it.
So love your neighbor! Everyone! Try and just keep trying! Forget about yourself! Someday you WILL die and when you do you WILL go to Heaven or Hell, but you WILL live on! In pain or pleasure. It’s God’s judgment but YOU GET TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN DESTINATION!
That’s what I mean by saying Get up and out of your manmade box (lifestyle). Things are way different than the World has tried to force you to believe! God is big, real and here! Eternity is real and it’s coming! If people don’t make a choice, then they’ve made a choice!
Our only REAL job, as Christians, is to save others. That’s what Jesus came to do and since we’re Christians it’s our job now. We have to take up our cross (forget yourselves) and follow Him.
It’s a narrow road. Shut-ins, handicapped people and others can no longer be excluded! They may be our cross, but the end result is well worth it! So take up your cross and follow Jesus!
My Family Is Handicapped
Very few humans can say that their entire family is handicapped, but I can.
Starting with myself, I have a Traumatic Brain Injury and, as a result, there are many other problems. My wife has Bipolar disorder. My oldest son Steven is Developmentally Delayed and suffers from ADHD. My middle son, TJ has emotional disorders. And, my youngest son, Danny, is Educably Mentally Retarded, Emotionally Disabled, and Dyslexic as well as Bi-Polar and Brain Injured.
So there you have it! No one in my family is without a handicap! So you must be wondering: “How do he and his wife feel about all of this?” Well, it could be different, but it’s NOT. This is where God has us, so we’re happy to be here and ready and willing to help them to do all that they need to survive on this earth.
Like what? Well the first thing that I am going to do is get an apartment with my eldest son. By doing that I will be able to teach him:
1. Time Management
2. Budgeting
3. Personal Financial Planning
4. Grocery List Making
5. Grocery Shopping
6. Communication
I see this as a wonderful time for both of us because I cannot walk but I do think well and he can walk just fine but he doesn’t easily think well. So together we’re a very good team! And Jesus leads both of us, so there’s no question that this is good. Plus there are many things that we can do for each other! It’s easily a win-win situation for both of us!
I became handicapped about 7 years ago and everyone in my family (except my middle son) including my wife (who has done an absolutely incredible job of running everything!) has been right beside me. Now that I am finally better (still handicapped, but better), it’s time for me to join my wife and do my duty as one of the parents of our children (now I didn’t say “perfect kids” but these are the kids that God gave us, and we love them!).
So, what will we do with the other children? Well, only God knows, but when it’s time, He’ll let us know and we’ll do it.
Very few humans can say that their entire family is handicapped, but I can.
Starting with myself, I have a Traumatic Brain Injury and, as a result, there are many other problems. My wife has Bipolar disorder. My oldest son Steven is Developmentally Delayed and suffers from ADHD. My middle son, TJ has emotional disorders. And, my youngest son, Danny, is Educably Mentally Retarded, Emotionally Disabled, and Dyslexic as well as Bi-Polar and Brain Injured.
So there you have it! No one in my family is without a handicap! So you must be wondering: “How do he and his wife feel about all of this?” Well, it could be different, but it’s NOT. This is where God has us, so we’re happy to be here and ready and willing to help them to do all that they need to survive on this earth.
Like what? Well the first thing that I am going to do is get an apartment with my eldest son. By doing that I will be able to teach him:
1. Time Management
2. Budgeting
3. Personal Financial Planning
4. Grocery List Making
5. Grocery Shopping
6. Communication
I see this as a wonderful time for both of us because I cannot walk but I do think well and he can walk just fine but he doesn’t easily think well. So together we’re a very good team! And Jesus leads both of us, so there’s no question that this is good. Plus there are many things that we can do for each other! It’s easily a win-win situation for both of us!
I became handicapped about 7 years ago and everyone in my family (except my middle son) including my wife (who has done an absolutely incredible job of running everything!) has been right beside me. Now that I am finally better (still handicapped, but better), it’s time for me to join my wife and do my duty as one of the parents of our children (now I didn’t say “perfect kids” but these are the kids that God gave us, and we love them!).
So, what will we do with the other children? Well, only God knows, but when it’s time, He’ll let us know and we’ll do it.
Giving
This is a tough subject, but I have given this much thought and it has much scriptural verification.
First of all, should I tithe? Tithing was an Old Testament commandment and it was possible to tithe because it was a commandment when it wasn’t from the heart and the entire New Testament is based on the heart. That’s why when the woman who gave the only two mites that she had Jesus said that she had given the most compared to everyone else.
His evaluation of what she had done wasn’t based on the amount that she gave, it was based on the fact that she had trusted God to provide for her even though she had no more money. She trusted God beyond her material and physical status.
That tells me that my faith is far more valuable than the value of money. So, should I tithe? Good question! We’re no longer under the Old Testament so the commandment to do so is no linger valid. Everything we do now is totally based on the heart, so that opens the door to where ever your heart is.
For me, I’m on a fixed income so I do not have free money to give, but I do have a great deal of free time and effort that I desire to give, and I firmly do believe that God takes good care of me. So, does my free time and effort equal two mites? Good question again!
Now we need to talk and I’ve given this a lot of thought, even as I write. I believe that the most important thing is the heart, so where is my heart? I believe (with good reason) that God takes care of me and my heart is His! And I know that whether I have money or not (which I don’t) I can still bring great value to Christ through what I do and I can volunteer my time and efforts at no cost at all, so yes I believe that equals two mites. When a man who has had a broken brain stem offers to volunteer for Christ, that’s valuable! I’m totally relying on Him to bring value through my efforts. Now that’s faith!
In the scriptures and in the New Testament, Jesus said:
Matt 6:24-27
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money .
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
NIV
So, the question to me is: Who do I serve? God or money? To me, the answer is extremely clear! I serve God with all of my life! Not just some things—everything! It’s because of Him that I have a life and any abilties. So of course I serve Him. I can, no matter what I do, only give back an extremely small portion of what has been given to me. So, of course I serve Him!
Now, should others do the same? I believe that others should do what I have done: evaluate where they are and what they do. Jesus looks at their heart and they should too!
This is a tough subject, but I have given this much thought and it has much scriptural verification.
First of all, should I tithe? Tithing was an Old Testament commandment and it was possible to tithe because it was a commandment when it wasn’t from the heart and the entire New Testament is based on the heart. That’s why when the woman who gave the only two mites that she had Jesus said that she had given the most compared to everyone else.
His evaluation of what she had done wasn’t based on the amount that she gave, it was based on the fact that she had trusted God to provide for her even though she had no more money. She trusted God beyond her material and physical status.
That tells me that my faith is far more valuable than the value of money. So, should I tithe? Good question! We’re no longer under the Old Testament so the commandment to do so is no linger valid. Everything we do now is totally based on the heart, so that opens the door to where ever your heart is.
For me, I’m on a fixed income so I do not have free money to give, but I do have a great deal of free time and effort that I desire to give, and I firmly do believe that God takes good care of me. So, does my free time and effort equal two mites? Good question again!
Now we need to talk and I’ve given this a lot of thought, even as I write. I believe that the most important thing is the heart, so where is my heart? I believe (with good reason) that God takes care of me and my heart is His! And I know that whether I have money or not (which I don’t) I can still bring great value to Christ through what I do and I can volunteer my time and efforts at no cost at all, so yes I believe that equals two mites. When a man who has had a broken brain stem offers to volunteer for Christ, that’s valuable! I’m totally relying on Him to bring value through my efforts. Now that’s faith!
In the scriptures and in the New Testament, Jesus said:
Matt 6:24-27
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money .
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
NIV
So, the question to me is: Who do I serve? God or money? To me, the answer is extremely clear! I serve God with all of my life! Not just some things—everything! It’s because of Him that I have a life and any abilties. So of course I serve Him. I can, no matter what I do, only give back an extremely small portion of what has been given to me. So, of course I serve Him!
Now, should others do the same? I believe that others should do what I have done: evaluate where they are and what they do. Jesus looks at their heart and they should too!
Heb 11:1
11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
NIV
Faith
Faith. What is it? Well, it would seem that the verse is pretty clear, isn’t it? And if you read the entire chapter, it talks all about people who gave everything down to their very beings for something that they couldn’t see or know. There was no tangible reason there—but they believed, and they got it.
Now, let me tell you why I brought this up. Today, people in Churches have redefined what Faith means. To them faith means that they’re going to the “right” Church, and they go at the “right” time, and they’re wearing the “right” clothes and their hair is fixed the “right” way, and they greet the “right” people the “right” way and they sing the “right” songs the “right” way and they hear the “right” message and then they go home and don’t remember much but that it was everything they had hoped it would be.
But Hebrews 11 goes farther than that. It talks about God forming the earth, and then things that different people did and how they showed their faith and what resulted for each of them. And we’re talking Heaven for them. Yes, they faced real human opposition! But they were true to God. No matter what the cost. And, without fail He rewarded each of them eternally!
So what does that mean to us today? Don’t we go at the “right” time? To the “right” Church? And don’t we do all of the “right” things? Maybe, but more importantly, do you have all of the “right” people there? You know, God made each of us individually the way we are now, for a reason and yet 96% of handicapped people have NO CHURCH to go to that will accept them.
As a father of 3 handicapped sons I have a huge problem with that number versus the reason that most people go to Church. People who are handicapped experience all of the negativity that society, outside the Church has to offer already, and it sounds like we often view church time as a religious social time, and I’m sorry but THAT’S NOT FAITH! What does that say to abnormal or handicapped people? Bringing those people that God created in as they are and loving them, teaching them and serving them and stepping out of OUR COMORT ZONES, now that’s faith!
11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
NIV
Faith
Faith. What is it? Well, it would seem that the verse is pretty clear, isn’t it? And if you read the entire chapter, it talks all about people who gave everything down to their very beings for something that they couldn’t see or know. There was no tangible reason there—but they believed, and they got it.
Now, let me tell you why I brought this up. Today, people in Churches have redefined what Faith means. To them faith means that they’re going to the “right” Church, and they go at the “right” time, and they’re wearing the “right” clothes and their hair is fixed the “right” way, and they greet the “right” people the “right” way and they sing the “right” songs the “right” way and they hear the “right” message and then they go home and don’t remember much but that it was everything they had hoped it would be.
But Hebrews 11 goes farther than that. It talks about God forming the earth, and then things that different people did and how they showed their faith and what resulted for each of them. And we’re talking Heaven for them. Yes, they faced real human opposition! But they were true to God. No matter what the cost. And, without fail He rewarded each of them eternally!
So what does that mean to us today? Don’t we go at the “right” time? To the “right” Church? And don’t we do all of the “right” things? Maybe, but more importantly, do you have all of the “right” people there? You know, God made each of us individually the way we are now, for a reason and yet 96% of handicapped people have NO CHURCH to go to that will accept them.
As a father of 3 handicapped sons I have a huge problem with that number versus the reason that most people go to Church. People who are handicapped experience all of the negativity that society, outside the Church has to offer already, and it sounds like we often view church time as a religious social time, and I’m sorry but THAT’S NOT FAITH! What does that say to abnormal or handicapped people? Bringing those people that God created in as they are and loving them, teaching them and serving them and stepping out of OUR COMORT ZONES, now that’s faith!
Be still, and know that I am God
This saying from Psalms is something that everyone should do, but it’s not easy.
Just think about me, I had everything that anyone in this life could want! Perfect marriage, great kids, super house, top of the line cars and an incredible job with tons of money and then this happened to me.
I am now handicapped, I have absolutely no memory, I’m a long way from my home, my wife and my children, I lost my job and I live very poorly watching every penny that I spend. And to top it off (as if there needed to be more), I am just now beginning to realize some of the pain and hardship that my family has had to go through. So, this saying means a great deal to me. But why? Well, let’s look at this very closely.
Be still. Stop stressing and thinking about things! In each person’s day there are plenty of things to think about and/or stress over. But as Christians, we’re God’s children and He has very clearly told us to Be still.
We are also told to know. Not to think about who’s in control or to guess what will happen, no we are to know who’s leading us, and trust Him. If we are still and know then we will begin to trust and relax.
The last thing that He tells us is I am God. He tells us who He is and why we can be still and know. What else could you need? Nothing. Now, I know that the bus will come and if God wants me to come home, I will. I just don’t worry about anything because I’m still and I know that He is God.
The fact that I’m still alive proves that He is God and I’m proud that He’s my Father.
This saying from Psalms is something that everyone should do, but it’s not easy.
Just think about me, I had everything that anyone in this life could want! Perfect marriage, great kids, super house, top of the line cars and an incredible job with tons of money and then this happened to me.
I am now handicapped, I have absolutely no memory, I’m a long way from my home, my wife and my children, I lost my job and I live very poorly watching every penny that I spend. And to top it off (as if there needed to be more), I am just now beginning to realize some of the pain and hardship that my family has had to go through. So, this saying means a great deal to me. But why? Well, let’s look at this very closely.
Be still. Stop stressing and thinking about things! In each person’s day there are plenty of things to think about and/or stress over. But as Christians, we’re God’s children and He has very clearly told us to Be still.
We are also told to know. Not to think about who’s in control or to guess what will happen, no we are to know who’s leading us, and trust Him. If we are still and know then we will begin to trust and relax.
The last thing that He tells us is I am God. He tells us who He is and why we can be still and know. What else could you need? Nothing. Now, I know that the bus will come and if God wants me to come home, I will. I just don’t worry about anything because I’m still and I know that He is God.
The fact that I’m still alive proves that He is God and I’m proud that He’s my Father.
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