The following is a ramble that stemmed from a successful morning! Another memory triggered by current events.
Welcome to my brain. Its right here, below, in text form. This is how my brain does on a minute to minute basis. My thoughts, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Hey, we’re all men here! So, I’ll just risk saying what is on my heart, straight from my heart. Do you ever look into the toilet after you . . . before you flush? Well, apart from all the positive experiences in this regard, the one that most vividly comes to mind is that day that I looked, and bright red blood was there, mingled with the usual. Lots of it. It was a horrifying experience.
This was a few years ago, and as it turns out, it was a burst pullup. The surgeon found more during my colonoscopy, and took care of them. I’m due for my next one, its been about 5 years now.
There’s a scripture that talks about looking at what comes out of you, did you know? James 3:5-12
There’s another one, Galatians 5. The deeds of the flesh are obvious, but the fruit of the Spirit is. There is something to it that the deeds are eclectic, and myriad. But the fruit is singular. For the fruit,
I assert this for your consideration,
the fruit is Christ Jesus. And those things listed are attributes of Jesus Christ. There are things about God which we are able to become, and things which we cannot. We are not ever gonna be omnipresent, nor omniscient, there are big words that describe this LOL transmutable and transcendent I think… but…
I’m just trying to make myself clear here, this thought that came to me just now, after I flushed and washed my hands.
What do I do when I sin? I am writing out Leviticus right now, as is my habit, writing out scripture for my devotions. What I notice there is simply that sins are sins. Unintentional, and sins that they were unaware of, are still sins, and needed atonement. Yes, Jesus covers them all. The sacrifice is perfect in Christ. Once and for all. But the acknowledgement is our part.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Look at that scripture in context, you’ll see that the point is to call sin what it is. Sin. We admit it. We confess with our mouth, its sin.
When I see what comes out of me, it makes me aware of what’s inside of me, the seen tells me about the unseen. God by his Holy Spirit is the doctor, surgeon and medicine!
If we make excuses they are no different than idols to us. Our excuses can’t save us. Cannot sanctify us.
Look at
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
God is the one who sanctifies us. The work of sanctification put another way is “being made like Christ”…
There are warnings in scripture about ignoring this.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Today I have just discovered this once again, or rather have been reminded. That his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I’ve been off work on “vacation” since June 20. My routine has been up-ended. My days have been characterized by disorder, and I’ve been in slump.
But I made a simple change today, it was a first step. Mark Krampitz will remember we talked a little bit about this at home group on Wednesday night. Walking in obedience is a step by step thing.
Is that what Paul meant by it being from faith to faith? Faith being defined as >
hearing (the word about Christ) + obedience = faith
hearing + obedience = faith
knowing + action = faith
living by faith, is hearing God’s word to me, and as I put what I know into practice, he reveals more to me.
Have you ever heard of “you can’t get there from here” ? Cherish, expressed part of this notion in this way > click here <
I have been frozen, unable to get to a better place by any other means. I had to wait until the morning, to begin again. I just rested yesterday.
As a diabetic, I know that the long term effects of my diet and exercise come to light every 90 days in the blood marker known as my A1C… here’s an article about that.
Is my spiritual A1C is measured in fruit? This is an idea now springing to mind.
John 15 says>
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Galatians 5>
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:16-26
I just finished Exodus, and there were one or two things that brought tears to my eyes, and one of them was the phrase, “There I will meet with you.”
There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Exodus 25:22
All of the things God is telling him to do, are leading up to this purpose. And the purpose was first for Moses, obviously, but look and see, it was about God reaching his people, through Moses, the servant he has raised up. He made Moses from scratch! Moses belonged to God. My thoughts fly to the basket amongst the reeds at the side of the Nile. His life was spared from the dictates of Pharaoh who had ordered that all new born baby boys were to be killed. And we know that he later murders an Egyptian slave master, and flees into the wilderness. 40 years later, God arranges for another kind of birth. Arguably, Moses could have seen the burning bush, and just fled back to his new home at Jethro’s, his father in law, with a tale to tell. But he was attracted to this strange thing that he saw. God knew how to get his attention.
The purpose of our sanctification is fruitfulness.
Genesis 22 comes to mind. Abraham called to sacrifice Isaac, the child of the promise. Abraham’s life purpose was Isaac. But God made sure he knew that even that was not to come between him and God.
Running Down Vimy 