2 Timothy 3:12:
"In fact, everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
John 16:2:
"In fact, the time is coming
when anyone who kills you will think
they are offering a service to God."
"In fact, everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
John 16:2:
"In fact, the time is coming
when anyone who kills you will think
they are offering a service to God."
BarbTalk:
I was pondering 2 Timothy 3:12 this morning and Jesus words from John 16:2 came to mind. It seems that the time is here when one who kills Christians think they are offering a service to God.
Then I thought, how can people, who believe in the unseen God and Lord, Jesus Christ, be willing to let someone kill them rather than deny their faith? And would I be willing to also have my head chopped off?
I have always told those close to me that I assume I will be one of the ones who is beheaded. Al always teases me and says: be sure to have a lot of money on hand, because you want to be able to bribe the person who has you in hand to have a sharp blade.
So what can I say about all of it? As I pondered the question, a song we sang yesterday went through my head. Yesterday we had a lovely time at PCC with Alissa joining us for a hymn sing. She looks wonderful and seemed to go through the morning with enough energy, reminding us that our prayers have given her strength.
I was pondering 2 Timothy 3:12 this morning and Jesus words from John 16:2 came to mind. It seems that the time is here when one who kills Christians think they are offering a service to God.
Then I thought, how can people, who believe in the unseen God and Lord, Jesus Christ, be willing to let someone kill them rather than deny their faith? And would I be willing to also have my head chopped off?
I have always told those close to me that I assume I will be one of the ones who is beheaded. Al always teases me and says: be sure to have a lot of money on hand, because you want to be able to bribe the person who has you in hand to have a sharp blade.
So what can I say about all of it? As I pondered the question, a song we sang yesterday went through my head. Yesterday we had a lovely time at PCC with Alissa joining us for a hymn sing. She looks wonderful and seemed to go through the morning with enough energy, reminding us that our prayers have given her strength.
He Lives
by Alan Jackson
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
In all the world around me I see His loving care
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair
I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
by Alan Jackson
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
In all the world around me I see His loving care
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair
I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
BarbTalk, continued:
As I listened to others sing the above song yesterday, I was reminded, that the unseen God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, by His Spirit, are not unseen to the women in that room. They see Him clearly. He resides in each one's heart. And when you know that He lives in you, you can never deny Him.
So many who follow me on FaceBook and read my blog are not interested in Jesus. I believe God loves each and every piece of creation, and so He has not come in a blaze of glory... yet. People have told me that they have tried, but it isn't for them. I think that one has to get to the point in their lives where they are ready to lay it all down, let go of their life as it is, lose their life, as Jesus is quoted as saying, so they can gain real life.
Maybe we have to be so desperate that nothing else matters. When that happens, people meet God. You hear of stories in prisons, in fox holes, and in the most extreme situation, where a person experiences the peace of God that passes all understanding. When there is nothing left to hold on to, people reach and God reaches to them. That is true in my life and in everyone's life that I have spoken to regarding God in their life.
I guess what I have discovered is that we can't just "try out God," like He is a new pair of shoes or something. We have to see our lives as not going anywhere good, and that only God can give the answer to our lives. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).
When we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, the hard part begins. We are given freedom to choose the right over the wrong. We are forgiven, and expected to live out an example of love in action, without rules. When there are lots of rules, then people lose their freedom, and Paul reminded us in Galatians 5:1: "It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and to not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." So we are free from rules, and rest our salvation purely on the sacrifice of Jesus.
Isaiah 64:6 records Isaiah's words of concern over our 'good works':
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."
The word used for filthy rags means like a used menstrual cloth. Now that is filthy! So, if we try to make ourselves look good by righteous acts, it seems like we have compounded the problem. We can't get there from here. Only Jesus can bring us into the presence of God, where we appear 'naked' with no righteousness of our own. Only Mercy from God can open that door for us, because He and Jesus believe we were worth His blood and His life to bring us to Himself.
So the next time a thought goes through our heads that says: good people go to heaven, reconsider. Only those acceptable to God go to heaven, and the only way to be acceptable, is through Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life.
If you want to chop my head off for what I have just said, join the crowd. If you want to talk about it, I would love to take time with you and talk about it.
You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart!