Simply Radical!

For most of my Christian life I have thought in terms of right and wrong. The internal gavel of my heart could easily strike a verdict on issues that were black and white. Thanks to fabulous home training as a child my conscience guided me fairly well through the gray areas too.

Recently though, I've been enlightened to a new and radical concept that is transforming my spiritual walk. It's not complicated. You can be transformed too if you have a desire to please God.

You did get that didn't you? It's one of those "can't see the forest for the trees" things. Simply…please God!

Wanting to please Him has become a wonderful living place within my spirit that overrules the soul (mind, will, emotions). I have found that being a right/wrong person allowed room in my mind for rationalization and compromise. In contrast, a desire to please Him is intimate and sure; which in turn, for me, is motivation for greater obedience too.

As I actively seek to please Him I quickly discover a constant companion in the Holy Spirit who is discernibly different than mere conscience. I can live in an abiding, communicating relationship with the master of the universe!

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5


Photo is "revelation" (google re-use)

Casting Judgment

There’s a whole lotta judging going on… uh hu! I think this is one of the biggest turn offs for folks who are fed up with Christians. Non-believers are probably fed up with it too!

One might say, “Well that’s just because they’ve hardened their hearts to the truth." And I would say that that’s a perfect example of the type of judging I’m talking about. How do we know the condition of another person’s heart? Half the time we don’t know the condition of our own hearts!

Yes, there is right and wrong. I’m not reaching for a Gnostic soapbox here. The Bible is full of absolutes but the divine law is to love God with our whole heart, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. It’s not our business to judge the thoughts and intents of a person’s heart. We can’t anyway. There is no way we are capable of rightly doing this. We’ve all done it but in doing so we literally judge ourselves.

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Romans 2:1

The law isn’t very merciful. Love is. Love sees the green or even sour fruit in another’s life and loves even more. Casting (to throw upon) judgment is critical, condemning, hurtful and dangerously proud.

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! James 5:9

And what about those non-believers out there?

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

Love, love, love…

The photo is "Arms Crossed" by Jim Baker aka Forrest Runner

Tambourine

Tambourine
black half moon and silver tongued
bring me your primitive story
tell how your voice praised Yahweh
tell how David danced with all his might

This is a Random Act of Poetry prompt response (whew, say that a few times real fast!). If you are interested in a little poetry fun then check it out!.

Withheld

Grace and Mercy rein the steeds of Yahweh
but they stomp
and their nostrils flare

How long O Lord?
How much longer until we ride?

.