The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:1,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."
Although Paul says what it is these folks, who will abandon the faith in favor of religion, will do, he doesn't really elaborate on why. He tells us, in so many words, their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be jettisoned for a pursuit of religion.
Astonishing!
How can one come to know our breath-taking Savior, how can one experience his love and kindness, how can one be the recipient of his wonderful mercy and receive his lavish grace he showers on us, and turn their back on it all for religion?
In a move that clearly expresses a rejection of his expressed love manifested on his cross in favor of being a do-gooder, these people do not find the sacrifice of our matchless Savior as good enough! No... in favor of setting themselves to the task of proving just how well-behaved and wonderful they can be, they make the foolish decision to make a demonstration of it to God.
Not me. I am not good enough! No effort on my own could ever approach God's amazing expression of love in sending his Son to die for me! "They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods…" How, on God's green earth, do people allow themselves to become so deluded to think they are good enough, their efforts are good enough, that they displace faith in Jesus Christ for being a do-gooder? They are all around us today, in various religions, in various denominations, in all kinds of churches… lip-service to the Savior but a cracking of the whip to engage in the strictures of religious exercises and disciplines.
My Lord knows all my weaknesses. In an incomprehensible love, he has made a way, the way of faith into his family for me. A place at his table, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ in his own inheritance. There is no way I'm passing that by to prove to God and others I'm something I clearly am not.
Jesus Christ is simply all I need. Nothing can begin to approach what he has done.
Although Paul says what it is these folks, who will abandon the faith in favor of religion, will do, he doesn't really elaborate on why. He tells us, in so many words, their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be jettisoned for a pursuit of religion.
Astonishing!
How can one come to know our breath-taking Savior, how can one experience his love and kindness, how can one be the recipient of his wonderful mercy and receive his lavish grace he showers on us, and turn their back on it all for religion?
In a move that clearly expresses a rejection of his expressed love manifested on his cross in favor of being a do-gooder, these people do not find the sacrifice of our matchless Savior as good enough! No... in favor of setting themselves to the task of proving just how well-behaved and wonderful they can be, they make the foolish decision to make a demonstration of it to God.
Not me. I am not good enough! No effort on my own could ever approach God's amazing expression of love in sending his Son to die for me! "They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods…" How, on God's green earth, do people allow themselves to become so deluded to think they are good enough, their efforts are good enough, that they displace faith in Jesus Christ for being a do-gooder? They are all around us today, in various religions, in various denominations, in all kinds of churches… lip-service to the Savior but a cracking of the whip to engage in the strictures of religious exercises and disciplines.
My Lord knows all my weaknesses. In an incomprehensible love, he has made a way, the way of faith into his family for me. A place at his table, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ in his own inheritance. There is no way I'm passing that by to prove to God and others I'm something I clearly am not.
Jesus Christ is simply all I need. Nothing can begin to approach what he has done.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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