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The other day I was walking around my neighborhood and decided to take a variety of pictures with my digital camera. The first three are of an abandoned house that sits at the end of my street. The following Bible verses came to me as I was taking them..
1). "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." - Luke 13:35
2). "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." - 2 Corinthians 5:1
3). "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you. Ye shallnot see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." - Matthew 23:38-39
The next picture is of a scarecrow that someone had put on a cross in their frontyard as a Halloween decoration. It reminded me of another verse. I knocked on the owners door and gave him a tract and left him after he said that his house was a Christian home and that he was just having some fun. Anyway, this is the verse that prompted me..
4). 1 Corinthians 2:2 - "For I determined to not know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
The last picture is one of a cat that was sitting in the middle of the road as I was walking by. I'm surprised it let me get as close as I did. Unfortunately, it ran off before he would let me pet him. This is the passage that came to me:
5). "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth travaileth in pain together until now. And not only the, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is not seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." - Romans 8:18-25
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Memories
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26
I was driving home from work the other day and stopped at a redlight, and when I began to focus on the traffic light, a time from my past resurfaced to my memory. When I got home, the Holy Spirit lead me to James 1. It's where I will be writing (among other verses) about patience today. The following is the story that came back to me that afternoon at the redlight..
My step-father and I used to go to a gym in a certain part of town, and during the time that we would be on our way there or just coming back, we would often get stopped at a railroad crossing. Sometimes, however, the rail guards would be down, the lights would be flashing, but there wasn't a train in sight. Several times, we would stop in front of the crossing and would have to wait as long as an hour or more before the rail guards were lifted and traffic could continue on. You can imagine the frustration of motorists as some would wait and others would cross the barriers any way. I can still remember watching some cars precariously take turns going around the guards and come within inches of crashing in to each other as they attempted to get through. On one instance I can even remember a police cruiser making a U-Turn, after a particular car blew through the cross, in what I presume was an effort to pull him over for it.
Keep in mind, all of this is happening on account of a train that noone is anticipating coming, at a 2-way crossway, with an apparent railroad malfunction, and a law that noone is seemingly paying attention to, with the result being a potential recipe for disaster. If you stop and think about it for a minute, the same scenario could be said for the spiritual side of things as well. The Almighty God, being substituted for the train, The crossway standing for the road of life, a trial or temptation, taking the place of the railway malfunction, and the law of the land which prohibits crossing when a train is coming, translated to God's law.
There are four Bible verses that I want to share for each example I listed in my scenario. I'll begin with the law: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." -1 John 3:4
Secondly, The crossway or the road of life: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." -Matthew 7:13-14
Thirdly, The malfunction or trial or temptation: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." - James 1:1-21
Lastly, The Almighty God or train: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this: that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." -Matthew 24:42-44
In conclusion, the road signs are up fo our safety. Help us God be more aware of them and heed their warnings when we see them. And Lord, please give us the patience to withstand the time it takes to wait for your coming.
I was driving home from work the other day and stopped at a redlight, and when I began to focus on the traffic light, a time from my past resurfaced to my memory. When I got home, the Holy Spirit lead me to James 1. It's where I will be writing (among other verses) about patience today. The following is the story that came back to me that afternoon at the redlight..
My step-father and I used to go to a gym in a certain part of town, and during the time that we would be on our way there or just coming back, we would often get stopped at a railroad crossing. Sometimes, however, the rail guards would be down, the lights would be flashing, but there wasn't a train in sight. Several times, we would stop in front of the crossing and would have to wait as long as an hour or more before the rail guards were lifted and traffic could continue on. You can imagine the frustration of motorists as some would wait and others would cross the barriers any way. I can still remember watching some cars precariously take turns going around the guards and come within inches of crashing in to each other as they attempted to get through. On one instance I can even remember a police cruiser making a U-Turn, after a particular car blew through the cross, in what I presume was an effort to pull him over for it.
Keep in mind, all of this is happening on account of a train that noone is anticipating coming, at a 2-way crossway, with an apparent railroad malfunction, and a law that noone is seemingly paying attention to, with the result being a potential recipe for disaster. If you stop and think about it for a minute, the same scenario could be said for the spiritual side of things as well. The Almighty God, being substituted for the train, The crossway standing for the road of life, a trial or temptation, taking the place of the railway malfunction, and the law of the land which prohibits crossing when a train is coming, translated to God's law.
There are four Bible verses that I want to share for each example I listed in my scenario. I'll begin with the law: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." -1 John 3:4
Secondly, The crossway or the road of life: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." -Matthew 7:13-14
Thirdly, The malfunction or trial or temptation: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." - James 1:1-21
Lastly, The Almighty God or train: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this: that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." -Matthew 24:42-44
In conclusion, the road signs are up fo our safety. Help us God be more aware of them and heed their warnings when we see them. And Lord, please give us the patience to withstand the time it takes to wait for your coming.
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