Scripture
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
~Matthew 6:28-29, NRSV
Quote
“Life with Christ at the center, is a life of unhurried peace and power.”
~Thomas Kelley
Just as a flower was made to receive life from the sun; so man was created to receive life from the Son, the Son of God. It is not so much that we live for Jesus as it is that we allow Him to live in us. We simply let Him be who He is in us. John called this principle “abiding.” To abide is to stay in a given place, state, or relationship:—it is to continue, to dwell, to endure, to be present, to remain, to tarry {wait} or stand. When we consider the lilies, a wild flower that grew in Palestine, it’s primary function was to be. This wild flower doesn’t do anything: it simply blooms were it is planted. In other words, it stays, stands, abides–holding it’s presence in a particular place. It neither works or worries.
This is certainly not an injunction to be lazy or passive. Jesus is simply teaching us that being precedes doing. We sometimes put the cart before the horse and put the emphasis on doing. We think that in doing, we will become a product of our deeds. If we do good deeds, we become a good person. It doesn’t work that way. The Pharisees did good deeds but they became increasing proud and self-righteous; so much so that they repulsed our LORD. It is true that deeds can reflect our nature and reveal to others what is in us but being precedes doing in our walk with Jesus. In the Christian life, the starting point is CHRIST IN US and He is our only hope of glory [perfection]. If we abide in HIM, we will bear fruit. In a very real sense, what we do is an indication of who we are but sleeping in the garage does not make one a car and doing good deeds does not make one a Christian.
In another sense, a Christian never is–he is becoming. Let me give you an example. As I was reading yesterday on this subject of abiding; I had to stop and pray…“Lord, I have read this passage {John 15} many times and I still don’t seem to fully understand but I think I am getting close.” Then a little voice went off in my head and said, “No, Jack, you are not close but you are closer.” There is a difference between close and closer: some times it can be a big difference. Any form of progress is always encouraging to me, even a tiny baby step.
Thanks for your prayers yesterday. I made a gaff, I meant to say 2+2=4 and I said 2+2=2. It is a small mistake but I am sure the critics will jump all over it. I have been made fun of before and don’t read comments or even check statistics. It was a politically incorrect sermon but I prayed about it for weeks and I followed my convictions. I did have tons of liberty and I have to give you a lot of the credit. The LORD does answer prayer.
Well I have a ton of things to do this week and I don’t know where to start. Tops on the list is getting ready for VBS which begins Sunday. I also have some other irons in fires.
I do not watch news; any news, not even FOX. I do listen to a little Rick and Bubba while I am eating breakfast. It is my understanding that the tragedy involving the five policemen and the death of the black man happened in Minnesota. They should be executed for being stupid: what were the moron’s thinking? This is the last thing we needed. George Soros and his band of trouble makers, anarchist, and community organizers are on the prowl. I do not understand why we are allowing them to destroy and rob. They are paid thugs. George Soros should be arrested himself. He is just another filthy rich Jew stirring the stink. They crucified Jesus, persecuted Paul and now they hate the church and have a bent toward communism. In communism, a small elite group rules, they make all the decisions for everyone. Soros and Bloomberg assume they will be is this small elite group once they overthrow the current government.