Photo: Studiomill

The Devil has millions of people hoodwinked into the belief that they must save themselves. As some verbalize it here in the South, they’ve ‘gotta get religion’ before they can come to God. And my big question to this is, “Why wait?”

Why not just go to God right now! Rather than ostracize yourself from others, why not go to church where you can assemble with other sinners undergoing the same sanctification process you’re going through, where you can hear the Word of God preached? Why not go to church, where God can do some working on your heart.

Church – A Hospital for Sinners
Avoiding church because you’re not right with God is like needing to be hospitalized and yet waiting to go to the hospital until you are well! Churches, like hospitals, are there for sick people. We go to hospitals to get physical healing. We go to churches to get spiritual healing. Sometimes we get the idea that church is a haven for saints. In reality church is a hospital for sinners.

Refusing the Gift
Why is it that we refuse God’s divine grace? Why do we refuse His garment of righteousness that He offers us freely, the one purchased at such an infinite price? How could we be so calloused and uncaring as to refuse such a heartfelt gesture from our heavenly King?

When Jesus displayed His passion for us at Calvary, His robe of perfection, His garment of light, His robe of righteousness, became our garment. At His death, His perfection, His light, His righteousness became ours.

Righteousness by Works
And now, here we are mired in misery, and trying to get right with the Lord. By our works, by our fruit and vegetable sacrifice, by our fig leaf righteousness, we desire to come clean. We think, “Isn’t our sacrifice acceptable? Don’t these fig leaves do the same job?”

The Gift Spurned, but Christ Still Offers Forgiveness
And so we go about our daily toil of ‘getting right with God’. And all the while, Jesus is extending His righteousness in our direction and telling us, “Here, take it.” And we hold up our hands and say, “Oh, no, Jesus, I couldn’t do that.”

“Oh, but I insist!” He urges.

“No, I couldn’t do that,” we continue to refuse.

“Here, just try it on,” Christ insists.

“Nah, it costs too much. I couldn’t afford it,” we stall.

“That’s okay, I already paid for it. Here, just try it on,” Christ continues to hold the precious garment out for us.

“Nah, I can make it on my own,” we insist.

But Jesus knows better, and so He still holds out His cloak of forgiveness and protection. All we have to be willing to do is to just put it on.

“See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes” (Zechariah 3:4).

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By Ron Reese. Copyright © 2012 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION © 1982.

Citeste mai mult la sursa: Hoodwinked by Satan

Articol preluat la noutati.intercer.net de la Bible Says.

Photo: Studiomill

Have you ever been a rock climber? I haven’t, I don’t have the courage for such activity, not even the simulated indoor rock climbs. However, I know stout-hearted people who take on the challenge of such climbing. A lot of gear is required to climb rocks. And they will tell you that foolhardy is the climber who starts out without the necessary equipment.

No, I won’t ever be what we think of as a rock climber—but every day, as a Christian, I do go into battle on rocky terrain. As I study Scripture, I learn that to survive in the great controversy between good and evil. I need to put on armor, the necessary equipment that God has lovingly provided for my protection.

Ephesians 6:14-17, lists what the Christian needs to wear for battle. Eugene H. Peterson describes this war in his paraphrase, The Message. “This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and his angels.” Indeed, this is war!

I’ve found that the best way for me to put on my gear day by day (in fact, my husband and I do this together every morning) is to ask God to dress me, starting with my feet and finishing with my head. 

• Sturdy footwear that will carry me with the gospel of peace—I come to God, a repentant sinner, joyfully starting each day, with His word.
   
• The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness—which is  trusting Jesus as my Savior to guide me through the land mines and the bullets of the enemy.
   
• The shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit—what could I do without Jesus and the Holy Spirit to go the before me? Jesus is my shield, and the Spirit’s sword rightly divides the word of truth that keeps me from defecting into the enemy’s camp.
   
• Protect my thinking with the helmet of salvation—as I serve my General Jesus, giving Him my loyalty, my mind will be fortified to receive the reward: a crown, that He will place on my head for being one of His faithful troops.

No, I’ll never be a valid rock climber but I’m surely climbing the rocky mount of Battle Hill. Soon the enemy, the Devil, will be defeated by The victor Jesus! I’m blessed that The Holy Spirit recruited me to join this Christian army. May I be a ready soldier by gearing up daily with His armor. Soon the victorious parade will enter the Holy City, a place of peace, no more war.

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By Betty Kossick. Copyright © 2012 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the THE MESSAGE ®.

Citeste mai mult la sursa: Rock Climbing

Articol preluat la noutati.intercer.net de la Bible Says.