What do I know?

"And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." I Cor. 8:2 When I read this scripture it makes me think of the times when I think I know the answer, when all seems clear. Could it be at those times that I am the furthest from really knowing? The journey that I have been on for the last four years has not been easy but it has been good. I have found that the more I know the less I know. Is there anything that we can really know for sure? "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." I Cor. 2:2 Maybe that is really all we need to know. "but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD." Jer. 9:24 I would like to say that I can boast in that, but the truth is I still have so much to learn. God is so much bigger and better than I can imagine or think. His mercy cleanses better than water. His justice purifies better than fire. His wisdom goes beyond all comprehension. What do I know? That He is good. That He knows best. That He is more concerned about our character than our comfort or success and that makes Him a wonderful father.

The Prodigal

Luke 14:11-32 The Prodigal needed three things to return to his father: 1. He needed to be tired of his sin. 2. He needed to know that his father was good. 3. He needed to receive his fathers love. Jesus did not come to condemn the weary, the lost, the struggling, the hopeless, the sinner. He came to free them and heal them. Jesus represents the Father's love. He said, forgive them Father for they know not what they do. He was stating exactly what the father wanted Him to. Our Creator loves us and understands why we have chosen the wrong road in life. He just wants us to come home, like the prodigal. He is waiting to receive you. He never intended that you be abused or misused. You are valuable to Him. He created you perfectly. You are unique. One of a kind. Only you can fullfill what He has called you to do. But you must come home, like the prodigal, willing to be a servant. But, know that He will take you as His child.

The Altar Call

The Altar call is almost always synonmous with accepting Jesus into your heart. This seems backwards. Who is accepting who? Are not we the ones who need to be accepted and received? Are not we the ones who have done wrong? Are we doing God a favor by accepting Him? Are not we the ones who are coming home and wanting to be welcomed and received? Is He not the host? The Father? The forgiver? Many may think it does not make a difference, but I think that it makes all the difference. I think that we are setting people up for deception. This deception can work in many ways. One is that when we tell people Jesus is knocking at the door of their heart and that they should answer and open the door, we are asking them to answer to a feeling. An emotion. I know that this is what I did. I felt Jesus knocking on the door of my heart and it made me want to open the door to Him. The result: my feelings, my emotions became my idol. I followed them wherever they led me and they led me down the wrong path. I was in bondage to my feelings. I trusted my feelings, not God. All the while believing that I had God's grace and I trusted Him. The truth is I had not even tasted God's grace. Secondly, it makes it look as if salvation is something we do rather than what God has done. I remember so many times coming to the altar and telling God I was going to change, I would be better. I did not want to keep on sinning but I kept doing it anyway. I came to the altar time after time. If I meant it more this time maybe things would change. Everytime I became more and more disappointed, no change, same old me. But that was exactly the problem. As much as I talked about God's love and believed in His grace, I was still trying to work for my salvation. It is a gift, His gift. But what is it to receive the gift of salvation? Is it not to believe that He receives you, forgives you, loves you? When you really know this not just in your head but with your heart, truth has set in and you shall be free indeed! There will be change. This is what the disciples were saying when they said to repent and believe. Unbelief is the root cause of habitual sin.

Repentance

What is repentance? Simply put it is change. Change of thinking that leads to a change in behavior. The bible indicates that two important ingredients are needed for change. One is God's kindness. We must know and believe that the LORD is good and experience His love for us. The second is a Godly sorrow. What is Godly sorrow? Godly sorrow is feeling bad about what you have done because of how it has affected someone else or God. Here is an example: someone has stolen something from someone and has been put in jail for it. Godly sorrow would be if that person felt bad for how their actions affected the person that they stole from. Godly sorrow would want to make amends. Worldly sorrow would be if that person felt bad for what they did because it landed them in jail. In other words, Godly sorrow feels bad about the consequences to others and worldly sorrow feels bad about the consequences to oneself. Do you want to change because of worldly sorrow? Worldly sorrow will not change you. But, not to worry, God is kind. Ask him for a Godly sorrow. He is a good God, He will answer you.

Saving Faith

Recently, I had someone talk with me about the struggle they are having with their grown children. They told me that their kids were saved, they just were not in a relationship with God right now. They said that their children were making bad choices and going the wrong direction. This mindset concerns me greatly as I believe that many who call themselves Christians and believe they are saved are not. The bible says to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) What is the best way to test ourselves? If a person has true faith they can prove it by thier works. Saving faith produces action. If I had a bad day at work yesterday and I wake beleiving it will be a bad day again, it will be difficult for me to get up in the morning. Why? Because I believe I am going to have a bad day. On the other hand, if I am going on vacation to my favorite destination, it will be easy for me to get up in the morning. Why? Because I believe I am going to have a good day. In the same way believing in God (His forgiveness, His character, His trustworthyness, His guidance) produces action. If I beleive Him, I will follow Him. I will learn to do what He says and I will leave behind the things that hinder me. (sin/selfishness) Does this mean I will be perfect? No, but I will practice righteouness and I will not practice unrighteousness. (1 John 2:4-6 and 1 John 3:4-6) For years I believed I was saved. I believed it even though I was practicing all sorts of immorality. If I would have died during that time I would have died not knowing or believing God and I would have been headed straight to hell. During this time I questioned my salvation on and off while others reassured me that I knew God. After all, I said the prayer and confessed Jesus as Lord. The truth was I confessed a Jesus that I thought I knew. I thought I knew about His love, about His grace, about His forgiveness but my actions proved that I did not know my value or His love. Test yourselves. Do you want to take the chance that your wrong? Saving faith produces good works and frees you from the bondage of sin. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness. (Matthew 6:23) Do not be decieived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap. (Galations 6:7)

Freedom

What is Freedom? Is it the ability to do what ever we would like? To have no rules? Or is it the ability to do what is right? Some people would say that freedom is what we have in this country and in many ways that is true. We have many freedoms that people from other countries do not even begin to realize. However, many individuals in our country are not free. Is an alcoholic free? Is someone who struggles with pronography free? Is the lover who is being abused but can't seem to let go free? Is the person who cannot control their anger free? It is for this freedom that Christ died. I use to cry and cry to God for freedom but I did not understand that I was not free because I really did not believe in what Christ had done for me. Believe, Receive. It really can be that simple. Christ came to set the captives free. It is for this reason He was born and for this reason that He died. The chains that bind us are only the lies that we still believe. Lies that say God is against us and not for us. Lies that say we or others are not valuable. Lies that say God is not good. Lies that say we are not good. Believe the truth. God is good and we are valuable. The bible says that the truth is what sets us free. If the truth sets us free then any time we are in bondage to something we must ask ourselves, 'what lie am I believeing?' Seek truth and love and you will find freedom.