Wednesday’s Word – Might Makes Right

Hello All,
Well its official, I’m in the camp which thinks that all of today’s technology is preventing us from learning some extremely valuable lessons that folks readily identified with in the past. Take for instance the concept of “might”. Not the might concerned with slight possibility, the might concerned with strong persistence.

Think about it: When is the last time you had to do anything that actually took all of your might? If an instance comes to your mind quickly, trust me, you’re in the minority. I frequent my local gym and on occasion I’ve been known to move some pretty impressive weight (short limbs). In all of the years that I’ve been active in weight training, I can say that there are relatively few times where lifting a certain amount of weight took ALL of my might. But the real work that makes a difference is to keep going when I feel like quitting.

I’d suppose that when the US was more agriculturally based, people generally had more of a real concept of might. Most everybody in the family, even the children at an early age had a hand in doing the work. Some of it very hard, taxing work. No Jiffy Lube for a quick drive through oil change or tire change on the tractor – they did it themselves. People knew that sometimes it took “all of their might”, persisting to get the days work done before going to bed.

Here’s The Word;

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

I don’t want to conclude this sounding as if I’m complaining. Not at all. I believe that we’re blessed beyond measure with many of today’s technological advances, but it would do us well to keep I mind The Biblical admonishments and what it means to take them seriously; Even in light of things that may cloud our understanding. I pray that we would take serious effort to seek an understanding of what it means to engage “all of our might”. I believe that therein lies the keys to transform our individual lives into sweet smelling savours more pleasing to The Lord. Loving the LORD with all of our might makes right.

In Him, Cros

Wednesday Week – Wholly Weak

Hello All,

That time is upon us again. Holy Week. The time we remember Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey to the crowds harmony “Hosanna” - In Judaism, it is always used in its original Hebrew form, Hoshana and means literally, "help" or "save, I pray". Who could imagine that these same people worshipping Christ in adoration would be the same ones shouting “Crucify him!” and calling for the release of a known murderer less than a week later
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But before we start casting stones at the crowd, I suggest we take a look at ourselves. How often is it us who are so sure and absolute in our thinking that our personal efforts can produce a lasting disposition that’s puts us right God? We may not say it out loud, but by our actions we turn away from the idea that He has our lives in His hands and revert to solving our problems in our own way. We call Him “Lord” on Sunday morning but by Tuesday afternoon we’re sure and absolute in the resolve that these “idiots” deserve not grace. Not mercy, but a big piece of our mind, that we’ve been inconvenienced or that we simply have a better way. Let me take the opportunity to say that I’m so not trying to be condemning but encourage that if Christ IS really LORD, He’s Lord enough to take care of us when we try to live peaceably, or when we suffer for righteousness sake. I’m not saying be a doormat of course, I’m praying that we realize the difference between being what we claim and not emotionally driven to trust our own way.

Here’s the Word;

Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Romans 12: 19 – 21 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Ephesians 4:26-28 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Too often, we look at these things behaviors and attitudes as things we can accomplish if we try hard enough. We attempt to change our personality and be “better” in our own strength. If that were the case; if were our choice to simply “choose” to be morally good, then why “Hosanna”? Why Adore The One who could “save us”? Easter reflects not only on a Triuphant King who has died for the sins of the world and has indeed arisen in Power. But also we recognize the God-Man who could give us the Power of His Spirit to do the things that we could never do. Not discounting the benefits of the afterlife, but also, as “good” as we could ever be, we, in ourselves, are still unable to produce righteousness in our own efforts. He is indeed Holy, and in our fallen selves, we’re wholly weak.

In Him,
Cros