Meditation of My Heart

Consider Jonah. A man chosen by God to reveal the words of God to the people. What a calling! God also called him to preach to a highly feared and violent group of people - the country of Nineveh. He did what almost any of us would do or at least think of doing - he ran. He is swallowed, broken and Jonah preaches. However, the story isn't about Jonah. It is about God! Jonah is the picture of any child of God that goes astray - the child that stamps his foot and says my way is better.  God met Jonah in the middle of sea.   Romans 8:  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38   For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  39  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Including the middle of the sea. God, in His great mercy, took...

What is fruit? James tells us there will be works. When I was growing up I thought works or fruit in a Christian's life was how many people I brought to God. I am not really sure where that thinking came from. It was definitely the focal point of churches, Christian events and missionary success. However, salvation is in the hand of God. We cannot make anyone believe. So, it is wrong to use that as a sign of fruit. I think God does give us a very clear picture of fruit. I think it would be describe better as change. We change as a believer. That change becomes evident to others and affects how we interact in the world. There are too many verses that support this to be able to list more than a small fraction of them. Just read the whole New Testament. Well and the Old Testament :)  also supports this idea of change, Ezekiel 11 so beautifully tells us that God does this work. " Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them,  [fn]  and take...

Cautions: This has more to do with how we interact with others and examination. I have noticed a trend among conservative Christians that teach evidence of salvation. I have noticed a "spiritual gift" of fruit inspector arise. I have even heard of churches refusing people because they don't see a person have enough faith or fruit. I have seen people criticized, condemned, and disheartened to the point of leaving Christian fellowship. Then I have seen these same people justify it as these people were not really saved. This saddens, but doesn't surprise me. Satan will cause extremes to try and  make the work of Spirit ineffective.  I think that is why the Bible mentions so often how we should love each other. It is love that stands out and speaks volumes to unbelievers.  Yet, on the other side, we are not to "love" to the  point we throw out doctrine. The Bible IS doctrine and God finds it important enough to have written a whole book about it.  It is a de...

In my previous post, I briefly explained the reasons for examination of one's life and the few examples of examination of other's lives. The most important (and probably the least done) of all examination is of one's self. Lam 3:40  Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD. 2 Cor 13:5  Test yourselves  to see  if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you  fail the test? Gal 6:4   But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have  reason for  boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. American is so against anyone doubting their faith. "Oh just remember that day you are saved.... write it down in the back of the Bible and look at it when you doubt." I never see that in scripture. Not once. Test yourself to see if you are in the faith Paul says, he does not say think back to the day we to...

You don't have to know me long to realize one of my passions is teaching evidence of salvation. When about 75% of Americans call themselves "Christian" ( Less call themselves Christian  - cnn article) then wouldn't we be a "Christian" nation. However, Jesus says in Matthew 7 that not all that say Lord Lord (emphasis in scripture ... Lord you are Lord!!!) are saved.  Matthew 7 also teaches that the way is narrow and FEW find it.  Again Matthew 22:14, many are called but FEW are chosen. This is consistent with a remnant being saved throughout the Bible. Even among the Jews, many were called out of Eygpt... not all of them were chosen. Many died quick deaths choosing idols over God ... even more never made it to the promised land. However, in America if you say a prayer you are saved. No! Not biblical. The Bible consistently in all scripture teaches change of life with salvation. Though I will not go into that in this post, I have touched on it in other posts...

Eric Liddel was a passionate man. He lived his passion in his faith in every nook of his life. He ran ... he ran fast. He won a bronze and a gold in the 1924 Olympics. He wouldn't compete in the 100 meter runs because they were held on Sunday. He was a man of God. He lived with conviction. I am sure he heard "Well done, my good and faithful servant". I love his quote. "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure."  There are times when I write, not everytime, but in the quiet still times of praising God, I feel His pleasure. It is like He is pouring out His glory in my life and I have to write. In the times of snuggling kids, cleaning house, doing laundry or cooking a meal that makes the family feel I love them, I feel HIS pleasure. The times when His glory pours out into me and I do .... do whatever to the glory of God.  When do you feel His pleasure?

A little worm burrowing in the ground has no hope of communicating with a star. It wouldn't even know how to start. The vast difference is worlds away and languages apart. Yet, the star shines on the worm and covers it with its light. I feel I am much farther away from a Holy God. I desire to know Him and understand Him and try as I might, I don't even know where to start. Yet, God shines on me and calls me Beloved. What awesomeness is that!! He sees me struggle and  plea and hears. He gives me a glimpse of Him that overwhelms me, something that fills me that I don't even understand. He doesn't take pity on me.... He loves me. Words cannot express. A taste of sweetness I try to savor the flavor sweeter than anything I've known. A smell of heaven quickly blowing away as I try to understand what's shown. Oh God, my heart is swelling, wildly beating because it cannot contain Your love so filling, deeply pulsing Leaving me forever changed I we...