What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately LXXVIII (78)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim
following the Lord Jesus
through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life,
I would like to humbly share
some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately
through the Bible.
I pray that these thoughts are
cushions in your shoes,
balm to your burns,
umbrellas for the rain,
and shade to the scorching heat
as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
(please click on the Bible books/chapters/verses below
to read the actual Scripture passages)
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Know Your Benefits!
Just noticed a feature on the car I’ve driven for nearly two years.
Oh how we do the same to the LORD’s promises in Christ,
leaving them un-read in the Word,
un-trusted in our trials,
un-enjoyed in our lives!
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Salvation By Grace Alone Thru Faith Alone
Getting to heaven on our own “goodness”
is like trying to twist open a doorknob with lotioned hands–
there’s no grip, no traction…the door remains closed.
We need the calloused nail-scarred hands of the Carpenter Christ
to open it & carry us in…
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Emotional Healing
A. When the LORD calms our intense fear & anxiety,
it’s like massaging & loosening a charlie-horse cramp;
we’re able to walk & run again when we only limped before.
Though Christ can make the physically lame to walk again,
it’s no less a miracle when He does the same to us emotionally…
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B. May the Lord Jesus transform His people
to soak the encrusted pots & pans of our worries & fears
in the soapy hot water of His character & promises…
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Spiritual Maturity
“Where are those we counted leaders,
Filled with zeal, and love, and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth!” –John Newton
Heavenly Father, please bless us to know such cedars,
and become such cedars, for the spread of Your fame!!!
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Collateral Damage
Our personal sins are not grenades that we can fall on
to absorb the explosion ourselves.
Our personal sins always spread collateral damage
to hurt those around us.
Repent & trust in Christ Jesus alone
to absorb the shrapnel of your sins…
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The Cross
The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
brings our sin & pride to its knees alone
& puts our righteousness on its feet in Christ alone.
Thus the Cross both offends & defends…
Luke 18:13-14
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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Only Worshiping the LORD
Oh for the LORD to bless this to happen in my heart!
Isaiah 2:17-18: “The arrogance of man will be brought low
and human pride humbled;
the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
and the idols will totally disappear.”
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Sin
A. Tastebuds burned by the fire of unrepented sin
cannot enjoy the warmth of the Bread of Life
& the coolness of His Living Waters…
B. As the Holy Spirit shows us the depths of our sinfulness,
He then enables us to drink from the deeper well
of Christ Jesus’ character & sacrifice for our sinfulness.
He must make us experience the deadly dehydration of our sin
so we cry out for the Living Water of His grace…
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True Obedience
The obedience that honors the LORD
is not that which says to Him,
“Look at what a good boy/girl I am!”,
but rather which says,
“Look at what a great Savior You are
to save & transform even me!”
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
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Spiritual Check Up
Forgive us Father!
Isaiah 2:6-9a: “…your people…are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination…and embrace pagan customs.
Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures…
Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands…”
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