LIGHT

 

Matthew 7:14 - "You are the light of the world!"

So many interpretations of what it means to be the light of the world. Some say that our message of being a follower of Christ is the spiritual revelation we bring into a world that has been blinded by the god of this age. Some say that we are a kind of "walking billboard" for God. That our actions and our choices may be the only Bible some people see. Either way, we have a responsibility to point to Christ as being the only way to life here and now........and life eternal after we die.

I think the one thing that has fascinated me about these words that Jesus spoke is that He proclaimed that we ARE the light of this world. Not that we can be the light. Not that if we study hard, cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's"  we might could attain light status. But that the simple fact is when we receive His salvation we become light.

I know that I hear voices today from various people about how dark this country and world has become. No one ever speaks of the simple fact that as long as God has a remnant here on earth, there is light. Where there is light, there is hope. And where there is hope, God is moving, working, and carrying out His plans. 

We have not been called to be a religious light....

We have not been called to be an exclusive denominational light....

We have not been called to be a light that prides itself on simply outshining any other light....

We have not been called to count and record how many are drawn to Christ and become lights themselves.

We have been called to simply "BE" light. Exist in this moment, this day, this time. And as we move through our day, be guided by the Holy Spirit, doing battle against the voices that seek to draw us away from being who God created us to be.

As the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians -  "I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ is calling us upward.  Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that."

Think on these things this morning...

God on you...

michael b.

THAT MOMENT OF CLARITY

 

Today's Greene Street Letter was originally posted back in August of 2012. It caught my attention first thing this morning. Good to revisit some former writing's to see if I have grown spiritually.......or do I need to stay in the nursery until I do.

There is a moment that must come to each of us. It will come at different times and in different places. It could happen in the middle of New York City...Or out in the woods by yourself.it might reveal itself in the blazing light of a noon day sun, or come to you upon the soft glow of a full moon.

it might fall upon you like lightning bolt or light upon you like a gentle breeze, but the impact is life changing. it is more than a mental thought and is more than a feeling. I hear some people lay claim to this, but their lives show no evidence of it.
"What?" you may be asking.
That incredible moment when everything clears away. Your thoughts cease to ramble and fill your mind and you are left with the unmistakable truth that God is real and you are in need of being saved. I don't believe such moments come by any other way than God's Holy Spirit communicating. It isn't that such communication has labeled you "a sinner".....You just know you are. Because of this sin that drives us, you realize that you are standing outside every thing God stands for.  You are fully aware that you are outside of His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His love. The only thing that connects you to God is His judgment, and you stand condemned through your own actions and rebellious thoughts.  I know that even as I type this, there will be some who will say, "But I'm not a bad person. I've never killed anyone. I haven't even taken drugs or gotten drunk." While this is true, we need to see that we are born into this world with a nature that seeks to rebel against God.Having such a nature doesn't mean we run around screaming Anarchist slogans, thrusting our hands into the air screaming, "Power to the people." We are born with a terrible drive to be independent. This independence seeks to be in control of our lives to the point that we have no need for God. (Until the wheels come off and then we run screaming to Him.)

Living in this state of so-called independence, we are influenced by the ways and customs of our society (which is being directed by the god of this world, Satan). Some people are able to retain a semblance of "right-ness," while others sink lower into the darkness of life outside of God. We find ourselves using drugs and alcohol to alter our perception and to help us to deal with problems and circumstances. The only thing is, we are living a lie. Drugs and alcohol help us to cope with nothing. They only give the illusion that we can escape. The more we use, the more under the control of Satan we place ourselves. We begin to lie. We start to cheat those we love. We use others to get what we want and need. Thus begins the spiral downward that will end in death and destruction. That is why the 12 Steps say that we need a POWER greater than ourselves who can restore us to sanity. In my life, such a Power has a name, and that name is Jesus.

Sin builds a house of cards that eventually will fall.
Salvation is founded upon a rock of stability, Jesus.}
Sin requires you to turn your back and allegiance to God and give your life for the kingdom of darkness.
Salvation is a free gift from God. You don't have to surrender or give up....but you will find that you want to. You will find that turning your will in the direction of God to receive from Him will be the lifeline that will draw you out of this pit of despair.
Sin seeks to remain hidden and desires that you live in secrecy.
Salvation empowers you to be open and transparent, living life in a new way.

Psalm 32:1-2 and 6-7
Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.
Whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the flood waters of judgment. For you are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

Thank God for moments where clarity rules our hearts and our minds.
That moment where You stand, O God, ready to save those who cry out to you.
Save them with an eternal salvation that cannot be destroyed or stolen by anyone or anything.
I can rest in the truth of such knowledge no matter what this day may bring to me.
Can you?

God on you....
mb

PRAYERS NEEDED

 Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

A friend called me yesterday to let me know about a check up they had with their doctor. Seems as though this friend has diabetic neuropathy, which leads to blindness. The doctor told them that it had reached a stage where there was nothing that could be done for this condition. It may be slowed some with the proper medication, but it would eventually take their sight.

I met this friend a little over 6 years ago when they started coming to our Saturday night meeting. This individual had the sweetest, most up lifting spirit I think I ever encountered. They have multiple health problems, and I never heard this person complain about their lot in life, or blame God for what had happened to them. Even with this diagnosis of a condition that leads to blindness, there was no bitterness in them. The comment was made, "I don't think I can go on if I loose my sight." but as quick as that comment left their lips, they said, "But my God has this, so I am going to trust Him to bring healing to me."

That is what this posting is about this morning. Please join me in prayer for this person that God would touch them with healing for their eyes. Also pray that God would keep them from depression and those dark thoughts that usually follow. Pray that my friend would "fix his eyes on Jesus" and continue to live daily for Him.

Thank you for joining me in prayer for this friend.

God on you this morning..........and God on my friend.

Michael b.

OVER MY HEAD IN GOD

 Sometimes I think we walk around wanting to live and follow Jesus in our daily lives, but at the same time we carry around a little fear that God might ask us to do something we feel we are totally incapable of doing. He might actually ask us to "get out of our comfort zone."

We try to spiritualize what we read in Scripture. We tell ourselves that God really doesn't expect us to give "everything" up, He just wants us to be ready and willing too if the time should come when He requires such. Or that we can live our life of comfort as long as we simply attend church, put a few dollars in the offering plate, and have a daily devotion. In other words, we live our life trying to get by with the minimum standard of Christ. As some would say, "I want just enough Jesus to keep me out of hell." 

In Luke chapter 5, we read where Jesus is teaching a multitude of people who are standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. The crowd begins to press in on Jesus, so He climbs into a boat that just happened to belong to Simon (later named Peter). Jesus tells Simon to "Put out a little from the land."  Simon complies with this request. In some ways, we want to live out our relationship with Christ like the command given to Simon. Don't get too deep into this relationship. Just put out a little (or do just enough) from the land. Trouble with this is we will never see the fullness of God, or experience the true power of seeing our faith in Him be brought to bear when we face situations that are beyond our control. Maybe we have stayed too near the shore for too long a time.

Eventually Jesus gives Simon another command----"Launch out into the deep waters." Jesus tells Simon that if he is obedient he will come away with a huge catch of fish. Not a bad deal if you are a fisherman. So what does Simon do. He begins to tell Jesus that they have been there.......they went out and fished all night, and they have nothing to show for it. But then Simon says something pretty incredible....."At Your word I will let down the net." This is true obedience! Simon tells Jesus, "Hey! Here is what we've done and we have squat to show for it. But I will obey." 

Maybe that is the attitude I need to take. First off, recognize what I have been trying to do in my own strength and nothing to show for it except that I have worn myself out. Second, I need to understand that the blessings of God come with my obedience to His word. As a good friend of mine puts it..."We need a Nike relationship with Christ......."JUST DO IT!"

You can play it safe by only putting out a little from the land, or you can jump in over your head and and strike out for the deep water......those deep places in Christ. I think I will choose the deep water.

God on you...

michael b

ARE YOU SICK TO DEATH

 

Psalm 107:20
He sent His Word and healed them. Snatched them from the door of death.

I do not profess to be an expert in anything.
Surely not in the field of recovery or treatment.
I have no degrees from a university that would give credence to any view I might hold.
Nor do I wish to give anyone who stops by here to read the postings, the impression that I am a learned man.
The understanding that I hold to comes from 25+ years of being around people in recovery.
It comes through a call that God placed on my life on May 20, 1994, that has lead me to where I am today.

Being a follower of Jesus Christ, I view the world (society and culture) as having a root cause for every problem that exists. That root cause would be a sin-nature that is found in every human born to this planet. A propensity to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing and, if allowed to grow and develop, leads down a path to destruction and independence from the real God.
The flesh, sin nature, old man, call it what you will, drives us and influences our decisions to seek out and satisfy whatever desire we might have. It causes us to rationalize our actions so as to explain away any wrong feelings we might have.

If you read II Timothy 3:1-5, you will find that the Apostle Paul tells of a time when God will allow this sin nature to be revealed for what it truly is.
V.1 = You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be difficult times (stressful times).

V.2 = For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God. Disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

V.3= They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good.

V.4= They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

V.5= They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like this.

Sounds to me like Paul ripped this from the headlines of this morning's newspaper.
In fact, what Paul has just described is the very nature and character of someone who is in addiction. It begins with that person having the most selfish nature around. "It's all about me! I will do whatever I want to do and I don't care who I hurt!"
Medicine isn't going to save someone with this sin nature.
Psychology isn't going to heal the mind, when the heart is buried in darkness.
Religion isn't going to salve the wound and make it better.
True healing comes when we "hear" the truth.

The verse from Psalm 107 says that "HE SENT HIS WORD AND HEALED THEM."
We could reason that the WORD is Jesus himself since we read in the first chapter of the book of John where  "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God." God sent His WORD....into the world to die for the sin, the wrong that had was found in every living human being. So that those who believed in Christ, believed and received this healing would be restored and brought into relationship with God.

One other thing....
Don't you find it strange that in the Psalm 107 verse it doesn't mention what they were being healed of? It just states that the WORD was sent and they were healed. This means that whatever has manifested in my life that is a direct result of my living to please this sin nature, God will heal me and free me from the destructive power it has over me. Now that is cool!

Think on these things today and let God speak to your heart.
You see, I have a problem..............
It's either true or it isn't.
I don't believe you can slice it any other way.
For me......
I believe it to be true.

God on you.....
mb

MARDI GRAS JESUS

 

I Corinthians 2:2 
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus and Him crucified.

I have  been reading A.W. Tozer's book The Radical Cross. Mr. Tozer does not seek to soothe your feelings and emotions when it comes to facing truth. He does not mince words in an effort make you feel good about yourself. No. He takes you straight to the cross of Christ and  makes you see the bloody savior hanging there because of sin. All sin. My sin.

He pushes your face close so that you can smell the blood that was shed to pay the price of sin. He makes you rub your hand over that rough, hewn wood on which the perfect sacrifice was hung. It's almost more than a body can stand, but there you are. You see, society wants a neat Jesus. Those in addiction want a neat Jesus. A Jesus that pours out forgiveness and grace like someone riding on a Mardi Gras float throws out baubles and beads to the crowd. "Clean the slate of our sin, but please don't ask us to change!" is the cry of the world. How deluded are we, when we look at Jesus in this way. 

The "Mardi Gras" Jesus saves our filthy souls, but turns a blind eye to our sexual indiscretions. He cuts us slack when we choose to take all the benefits of a marriage relationship without the commitment of a life together under His watchful eye. Then when the relationship goes South, we cry out that we are being punished, or that God doesn't love us. No, we have chosen to reject the real cross, the real Jesus to feed our own selfish lust. Then we raise the banner of "That's Not Fair!" when we are confronted with the truth of what a real life in Christ looks like. I don't think I would go there with that one. If we want fair in this life, then we must remember who it is we are talking to when we stated that life hasn't been fair to us. If we want fair, then God should never have had to send Jesus to die for me. If we want fair, then we deserve to be in hell for eternity. Now that's fair!

Truth be known, when we come to the cross the greatest thing that is crushed is our will. The part of me that wants what I want, when I want it. Hanging on to self will is not optional when one comes to Christ for salvation and a new life. Step # 3 of the Twelve Steps states plainly that we "Make a decision to turn Will and life over the care of God as we understood Him." Such is the only way one escapes sin/addiction. The laying down of my will to embrace His will. This is where we find life. The old will...the old sinful nature that we drag around will (HEAR ME ON THIS) always look for the easier, softer way. Such is not the way of Christ. Such will not be a part of the cross. I'm not advocating a Jesus who lives to beat us up at ever turn. I'm not pushing a life that is always fraught with trouble and strife. What I am saying is that life happens to everyone who draws breath. There will be situations and circumstances that we will face that will bring up the thought of running back to our old ways. Back to using to cope with everything. But in Christ, we don't have to. From the cross we can draw strength to push on. From the Spirit of God who lives in each believer, we don't have to cower and fear. We can move forward every day. Now that's a promise you can bank on.

God on you....
Michael b.

EARLY MORNING RAMBLINGS

 

Early morning and the coffee maker is huffing and puffing to deliver its nectar for consumption. Seems to be a lot of hopelessness out there in this old world. Too many listening to the wrong voice that bombards a message of despair and gloom 24 / 7. Such a voice takes my eyes off of Christ and puts them squarely on my own situations and circumstances. Nothing really wrong with this except that I am left trying to address all the darkness in my own strength, ability, and what's even worse, my own will.

Rather than lean into Jesus, I lean into self thinking that I can accomplish whatever needs being done. Such efforts only leave me drained and empty inside. Now I'm not saying that we should all just sit on the couch and drink coffee, oblivious to the spiritual darkness that seeks to overtake us. What I am saying is that we need to be "renewed" in our minds and hearts. Instead of sitting there wringing our hands crying out "Woe is me. What shall I do?" We should connect our thoughts and prayers via God's Holy Spirit to our Creator Father.

Strange thought this morning. He didn't have to give me another day of life, but He did. He didn't have to let me rise up and open my Bible this morning to study and take in His message, but He did. He knows all too well that this day has troubles of its own, and that I need to be prepared to face, with His help, what ever comes my way. Today........this morning........right now, I am grateful. I give Him thanks for who He is. I celebrate the simple fact that if He had not saved me I would be destined to an eternity of separation from Him. You may be thinking, "What's the big deal with being separated?" Well, it is a bigger deal than you could imagine. 

God has provided the way to eternal life with Him. He has drawn me into His salvation through the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sin. He took me in just like I was.....a sinner in need of a great Savior. And He has called me to have relationship with Him on a daily basis. That is why I rejoice this morning, because its all about Him and not really about me. If you don't know this God I write of, I pray that you call out to Him today, that you also may experience the wonder and mystery of entering into a relationship with the One who created everything.

Colossians 3:17 /  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

God on you....

michael b