FM - Tuning In to The Almighty's Frequency

"Follow Me."  Two simple words Jesus implored others to do throughout the Gospels.  Yet though the words and message are simple, the effects of following Jesus - that is, striving to follow His example - are most profound.

If we as a people treated others and self in the manner that Christ did; if we obeyed His teaching, what would be the outcome?

Man and woman would live in love and marital faithfulness to each other; STDs would diminish; there would be no trace of child abuse (or animal abuse); we would not succumb to alcoholism or drunkenness and its deadly effects; we'd refrain from illegal substances and their trappings; there would be no more murders, rape and wars; theft would be a thing of the past; the slander, gossip and threats people heap on each other would cease; we would have inner fulfillment and be blessed in knowing and loving our Creator; the list goes on...

Does Jesus' way sound so bad?  And all of the blessings above are contained within that simple two-word invitation from the Christ:  "Follow Me."

FM:  May we tune in to The Almighty's frequency.


"Follow Me" references: Mt. 4:19, Mt. 9:22, Mark 2:14, Mark 8:34, Lk, 9:59, Lk. 18:22, John 10:27, John 12:26



As iron sharpens iron...

<><+><>

My Father's Cool Lingo...

My Father has a cool way with words. Check out what He lays down in Isaiah 8:19-20 (CJB): 

"So when they tell you to consult those squeaking, squawking mediums and fortune-tellers; (you are to answer), 'Shouldn't a people seek their God? Must the living ask the dead for teaching and instruction?' For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion."

The question, "Must the living ask the dead for teaching and instruction?" especially stands out to me.  In essence, it is implying that those in relationship with God are genuinely alive, while those practicing divination are merely existing - as good as dead.

I also found the statement, "For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion" quite ironic, as those practicing divination are seeking enlightenment.  The True and Living God quips that those promoting divination to others is an "unenlightened suggestion."

Dear friends, there is no need to practice man-made sorcery and witchcraft to be "enlightened" or to attempt to achieve a "god-like" status.  We are mere humans, dying every day, and nothing concocted from our finite hands can save us.

Why not cut out the middle man (us), the middle lane leading to nowhere on a dead end road, and go straight to the top:  God, Himself, has prepared the way of relationship and salvation for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.  Mankind will never be able to reach a god-like status, but the True and Living God reached down to man, becoming man through Jesus.  (Philippians 2:5-11)

Why not ask Jesus to come into your heart and be the Lord of your life today?  (Romans 10:9-10)  Ask Him to cleanse you from your wrong doing - your sin.  (1 John 1:9)  Don't return to those old ways that only lead to spiritual death.  You have nothing to lose and every wonderful thing to gain - the Lord only wants to love you and bless you.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  2 Corinthians 5:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arrow of Love Via Three Nails

Where does the time go?  As of this post, the first month of 2013 is almost behind us; February is already upon us.  Speaking of February, Valentine's Day will be here shortly.

It's hard for me to grasp that I've known my wife for twenty-four years.  We met in 1989 - our freshman year of college.  It took us another decade to get on the same page in life as individuals, but we did, and now we have almost eleven years of marriage behind us.

Marriage has been good: We have two beautiful children, a house, a couple of dogs, and there has been plenty of laughter under our roof.  However, as with life, and as with any two individuals living under one roof, a few storms had to be weathered along the way.  There will be plenty more laughter and highs... The lows are sure to come as well.  That's life.

I've discovered that Love is an anchor, and if that anchor between spouses is strong, that anchor will hold through the tempests.  That anchor is also none other than God, for God is love.  (1 John 4:16)

In thinking about this upcoming Valentine's Day, my wife, and love, I am reminded of Jesus' words in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

We love our spouses, don't we?  Of course we do.  But would we be willing to die for our spouses?  We probably would, and we would be willing to die if it meant saving our children.  Simple enough.

But what about an enemy?  Would we be willing to lose our life to save an enemy?  Honestly, we probably would not be that willing, though that is exactly what Jesus the Christ - God in the flesh - did:  He died for His enemies on that execution stake - the cross (after being beaten and whipped).  And guess who His enemies were at the time:  You, me and the entire world.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5: 6 - 8

Just like a marriage, God the Father wants to have an intimate relationship with each one of us, and He made provisions for that relationship through His Son.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful, loving relationship with his/her spouse - and with the True, Living and Loving God.

Maybe you've survived a broken marriage.  You can still count on the Lord Jesus to be faithful, for He tells us, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."  (John 15:4)  God also tells His follower/child, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Joshua 1:5)

There is simply no greater love than the love God has for us through His Son:  The Lord Jesus, the Messiah.  May we hold His hand as His children, follow where He leads and enjoy His blessings.

As iron sharpens iron...

<><+><>