Fantastic Friday #886 - Intersect

Intersect

15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ Jeremiah 6:15-17



Do you ever sit and think where your life intersects with God? With all the roads we travel in our life, there are times where the road I take is no longer parallel with God and His teachings. It is usually a rough road, not paved and smooth, with lots of obstacles to overcome, and certainly no signs for direction. It can typically travel a further distance away from God, where the path to come back sometimes looks too great. The path to come back to God is never too great, but the path could be bumpy along the way. When we travel parallel with God with a smoother road, fewer obstacles and definite signage, there is a clearer path and often that road will merge with God and what He wants for our lives. The intersection between the road God wants us to travel and what the world wants us to venture down are two different paths, and while I fall short, the road to God is a much better choice for me. Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #885 - Enter

Enter

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:4-6

This week I attended a funeral of a colleague who died suddenly at the age of 38. Way too young for someone. I heard during the service mentioned a few times of him entering the pearly gates, entering Heaven, entering the room to be beside Jesus. It really got me thinking about how people that pass from this life and enter another, but not all who pass from this life will enter Heaven. I wonder what makes people think that they can get into Heaven without truly accepting our Lord and Savior, and why does God want some people so young. I wondered what the non-believers, including many muslims felt at this funeral service where the clear path was laid out by the speaker so eloquently about Jesus' love for us and the only path for eternal life. The enemy works to pull us away from God's promise. What is given to us is God's gift to enter Heaven as long as we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. It is a simple step, but a more challenging step to follow Him throughout our days so that we can Enter the next life with confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't enter the space where the lies and doubt the enemy spouts draw us away, but focus on our exit and entry from this world to the next.


Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #884 - Freedom

Freedom

16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 2 Peter 2:16-17

Freedom has an interesting connotation these days. In American culture, we were brought up on the values our country was formed on, including freedom of religion. The people who came to America didn't have this freedom in most cases, to practice what they wished. There are also other freedoms we experience that others around the world do not, including speaking against oppressive governments or ideals that we don't agree with. But, we also as human beings have the freedom of choice, to choose the path we will follow. Choices can be hard at times, because of the pressures of those around us, and what society tells us to choose. Having freedom lets us make the best decision for our personal path, and this freedom should not be taken lightly. We should not use this freedom to choose sinful ways at times and the righteous way at another. We need to remember that God expects us to freely choose in a way that is respectful and loving, and we should not judge others for their freedom of choice. We don't have to like what other people freely choose, but we have to respect that they have that choice. Live freely but choose a path to freedom that is righteous.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #883 - Iniquity

Iniquity

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

I don't think often enough about the true suffering Christ took on for our sins. Iniquity is used in this scripture and has a very strong intent. Iniquity talks about true wickedness in the definition which in our language is a pretty powerful word. When you look at sin, it talks about a deliberate act, so they are almost interchangeable, and they both sound dreadful. These are acts that drive a separation between us and God. Forgiveness can take place because of what Christ did on the cross for us. I do think that if we spent more time thinking about him being pierced and crushed for our iniquity and sin, we might rethink deliberately turning our hearts away from God. I can't imagine the pain and suffering Christ went through, and to think that He went through this for you and me. Take a moment to think about how His death and resurrection has given you new opportunities to overcome these iniquities and sin, and has given us a way to return to God our Father.

Have a great weekend.

Matt