Beautiful morning to you--
At least that’s what it is for us here in Molalla. And I was able to taste it in the form of a wimpy old man jog. Becki and I need to go present soon at a ladies Bible Study group. After that I’m thinking to return to my sawmill in Sandy to attempt installing some vital parts. Yesterday I faced a breakdown with it. A technical support guy in Indiana helped me diagnose the problem. Ouch! I’ve already picked up the parts at Wood-Mizer Portland—to the tune of nearly 800 bucks! Major setback!
May your day go as it should. I have to believe that if you and I are living to please Him, it will—with or without setbacks.
Ray
Do you see the great three-point sermon here? OBEDIENCE—PURIFIES—EMPOWERS.
Of course, it’s not just any old obedience—to any old ideology—it’s obedience to the TRUTH—“the eternal and living Word of God” (1 Peter 1:23, TPT). Personally establishing THE WORD OF GOD (THE BIBLE) as a source of authority and TRUTH is not a puny matter. I conclude that it is essential if we are to successfully navigate life here so as to arrive at the correct eternal destination. But alas!—how many people are as interested in the pursuit of TRUTH as they are in the pursuit of their own opinions?
The TRUTH of the Biblical Gospel actually begins with the universal dirty stinky state of the entire human race—hopelessly defiled by SIN. You know the script—“The wages of SIN is death”— that death being the epitome of dirt and defilement—“But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ out Lord” (Romans 6:23)—the epitome of cleansing.
If OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH is so essential, what essential truths are we to obey? Two are uppermost—PASSIONATELY LOVE GOD, and PASSIONATELY LOVE THOSE WHOM GOD LOVES (Matthew 22:37-40). The first is relatively easy for me because it makes so much sense. I have no problem recognizing that living to love and please my Maker is the core purpose of my existence. But the second one—that can present some difficulty. Naturally speaking, I may not even like some whom I’m required to love. But, thank God, I’m not left to flounder and fail. There is an amazing benefit to OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH—it actually EMPOWERS me to do what I am weak to do on my own. “…this empowers you to be full of love for your fellow believers.”