Children, Brothers, and Brethren

It has been pressing on my heart for a very long time that I write to you these words. I am only seeing part of the picture, many words are still missing and with time, they will eventually reveal themselves to us. God has been speaking to me through His Word. If I am the watchman who sees the sword coming and I do nothing to warn my children, my brothers, and my brethren in fellowship; and the sword comes and takes any person from among the people, and is taken away in their wickedness, in their sin, then I am responsible. I will suffer the dire consequences of an unfaithful watchman; their blood will fall onto my hands.[1]

God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn away from your evil ways! For why should you die?[2] For if you turn away from evil, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine people who are guided by truth, reason, justice, fairness, and who need no repentance.[3] I do not judge the days of my life nor do I grade them on how good or how bad I have been. And I cannot judge God’s performance by how quickly He answers my prayers or by how little or how much wealth I have in my possession. God is able to take anything, your life, my life and use it for our good and for His glory.[4] Be more concerned with the condition of your heart before God than how you will look to others.[5]

What kind of parent would you be, if one of your sons or daughters were lost, would you not leave everything to find the one you love? Would you stop looking after so many days, weeks, or months? Would you not look for them until you found them?[6] You have fallen prey to your adversary the devil who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.[7] Thus, Jesus was sent to find His lost sheep.[8] God searches for His sheep and will continue seeking them out.[9]

Please do not let the thoughts of your mind, the voice of your mouth speak sin to your flesh.[10] Let not your heart deceive you![11] And let the spirit of truth be the judge and guide, we are children of the Most High God,[12] therefore, He sees everything.[13] Do not let the spirit of error keep you in the vanity of deception. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?[14]

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[1] Ezekiel 33:6

[2] Ezekiel 33:11

[3] Luke 15:7

[4] Romans 8:28

[5] 1 Samuel 15:24-25

[6] Luke 15:4

[7] 1 Peter 5:8

[8] Matthew 15:24

[9] Ezekiel 34:11

[10] Ecclesiastes 5:6

[11] Jeremiah 17:9

[12] 1 John 4:6

[13] Genesis 16:13

[14] Ecclesiastes 5:6

All Things Work Together

Ezekiel 33:12 - Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: “The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.”

It matters not how perfect I try to be, if I sin my righteousness will not save me. As for the wickedness of the wicked, if he turns away from wickedness, he will be saved. Thus, no matter how long the track record of good deeds, it takes just one fall from grace for self-condemnation to breed evil. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but walk according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1) I must continue to walk according to the Spirit.

Every morning I have an opportunity to choose to live a clean and righteous life. I am completely responsible for my actions. The decision I make in regard to the choice I make will affect the rest of my life. I must turn from self to God. I do not understand it! How could have this have happened? Where can I flee from self? Every place I go there I am. The baggage I carry – the failures, my weaknesses, my sins, and my character defects all come with me!

Yesterday, I was the Judge, being very judgmental. I felt convicted. “Judge not, and you will not be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) God’s mercy on my life is never consumed and they are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Therefore, my refuge is in the Lord. (Deuteronomy 33:27)

This morning my slate is clean. My life is not an excuse for righteousness or for condemnation. I have ceased trying to be perfect. The enemy will not cease because Christ paid for my sins. The devil wants souls, he wants me and he wants you. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Christ came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Thus, I am not exempted from stupidity, making mistakes, having afflictions, or any kind of temptations; and being a new person in Christ does not eliminate me from being a target. I can easily shoot myself in the foot as anyone pointing a finger at me.

As I seek God’s will for my life, I will come to road blocks, detours, dark alleys, and at times, it will seem as if I am totally lost. But I am not, for God is always with me. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) I must let my conduct be without condemnation. I must be content with such things, as I have and that I am. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

To Tell The Truth

Once there was a guy who died and went to heaven. He met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, who then took the dead guy on a tour of all the churches in heaven. The first church they came to was the Catholic Church, then a Baptist Church, followed by the Church of Christ; etc. All of churches were filled to capacity. Finally, on their way to another church, the dead guy asks, “Why is everyone still worshiping in separate churches in heaven and not together as the body of Christ?”

“They all think they are teaching the true doctrine!” St. Peter answered. Then St. Peter led the dead guy to the last building at the edge of heaven.

“What is this?” asked the dead guy.

“This is the church of the Church-hopping Christians of the Self-Righteous!” St. Peter answered.

“Who are these people?” asked the dead guy.

“They are people who think they are the only ones who are ‘right’ and everyone else is ‘wrong’ and sit on a high horse believing that whoever is teaching or preaching is not preaching what they should. They obviously want to hear what they want to hear.” St. Peter answered.

“What? You are kidding?”

St. Peter laughed. “These are people who think they know how much time they have before the return of the Lord! And because they cannot accept other people who do not believe as they do; they think they have a special calling because they have been called to leave the church they once attended. They are condemning others because they do not believe as they do!”

“What is to happen to them?” asked the dead guy.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7) Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (Act 4:19) Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. (Psalm 50:6)”

Read the Bible every day; learn to divide the word of truth, learn to listen to the voice of God discerning between what is in your mind and deceitfulness of your heart.