Soul Honesty

Here is the meaning of denying self if one is to become a companion with Christ as He builds and battles. Yes, He builds His church and it is to be a force as it fights the foes of God and man. So, who can He depend upon in this campaign? Those who take up their cross and deny self. As G. Campbell Morgan says, Christ wants "really faithful, consecrated souls far more than patronizing multitudes."  "By the three hundred will I save" we learn in the story of Gideon. A multitude of 32,000 seemingly ready to fight, but only three hundred truly ready to die. These three hundred were committed and they obeyed. These two things are included in those who follow Him...to trust and obey. Often the church speaks of trust but precious little is heard of obey because to obey means to deny self, and to obey and deny self is not a popular message today. Yet this is the message Christ used to sift the crowds gathered about Him. To obey leads to sanctification, to obey leads to purity of body, mind and soul, to obey leads you to carry your cross. And after the cross comes resurrection.
     To deny self is the most difficult final step in following Christ. It is a moment-by-moment struggle as well as a singular event to be faced. To quote Morgan again; it is the thing "that must be set right, the friendship that must be dropped, the habit that must be abandoned, the restitution that has to be made, the pride the has to be humbled, the prejudice that has to be crucified."
     So help us God not only to trust and accept His grace and mercy, but to finally obey.

What is to come...

I have to share a completely amazing paragraph from G. Campbell Morgan which provides very provocative food for thought. Spoken sometime around WWI (the war to end all wars) but I cannot help but believe that his observation is coming true today.

Humanity thinks it is able to govern itself. Government of the people by the people for the people is a ghastly failure unless you preface your idea with some other word, or follow it up with some other word. Government of the people by the people for the people under God. Yes, verily. But if we attempt it without God, the last and worst tyranny of the world will not be the tyranny of monarchy or the tyranny of wealth - it will be the tyranny of democracy. A democracy is hell unless it be also a theocracy.


Our country used to believe "under God." But that is just not politically correct any more. We will reap what we sow.

What say you?

Obey? The great word!

How godless must the church become and disown her savior? Will a remnant arise? When they do, persecution will greet them, and in the name of God. So has it always been. Will she awake and behold the One who bought her? When will she stop abdicating her called-to purity and holiness, one other worldly? The question is fundamental and a profound one. My heart weeps as this generation caves to its besetting sin, sexual sin. But it dives much deeper then lust of the flesh. Pride the opposing force to obedience. Where are the preachers, men of God, to right the ship and shepherd the flock? Alas, many have fallen into the same deception  and call wrong right. Too much of the world's corruption is in the church, and to obey is not a behavior often preached or understood or embraced. For if we were to obey, the world, flesh and the enemy would be denied and Christ enthroned. Sin is not distasteful as it should be, it has been justified by the infusion of secular wisdom which condones it, applauds it!

The world watches as the church is influenced by the world and not the opposite. And the world approves! Surprised? Salt of the earth, light on a hill; these terms no longer apply because the church has too often blended into a godless society. Some say that we should become like the world so we can win the world to Christ. Holy Scripture does not teach this. Rather, "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 1 Cor 6:17. What an profound reference is made from Isaiah; Isaiah 52:11 "Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD." And that is who we are, vessels of the Lord. I am not advocating isolationism. Be in the world but not of the world

Time to return to the most supreme Christ-like behavior, obedience. "Yet this is the one great word that reveals the secret of the perfection of Jesus" G. Campbell Morgan.

Feel Odd?

Interesting how some of us, including myself, get a sense of spiritual urgency when news report recession, financial instability, natural catastrophic events, never mind world news. If Holy Scripture be true...these are but the beginnings of birth pangs. Also signaled by the down-side up morality of today. Right is wrong and wrong is right...how intensely sadly true. But these events and signs tell us that "spring is coming" and our long awaited Savior is near in His return. Do you believe that? Do you really believe it? If so, how ought we to live and what should be our state of mind of these things?

What feeling should I be experiencing...one that checks itself against the perceptions and opinions of some and mocking of others, perhaps? Sometimes that is the way of it with me, sadly. But then again, rejoice that God is faithful, keeps His word and Christ will return and our joy will be complete. Let me fix my eyes only upward and on Him who saves.