Word Association

Okay, here’s one I’m sure you remember: I’m going to throw out a random word, and then you just say the first thing that comes to mind. You don’t have to think at all about it. Actually, don’t think, just respond with whatever pops in your head first.

First word; GREEN

Alright, you probably responded with another color or something that’s easily associated with the color green like “grass” or “Hornet”. Funny thing about the word association game is it’s definitely a game with a purpose. It’s to teach you where your mind leans. Many people lean contrary, and they tend to spit back opposites: If I say white, they say black. Some people lean supportive; if I say music, they say dance. At the end of the game, you have two real things to consider. Which way do I lean? And Which way do I want to lean?

If we’re true to our calling as Christians, led by The Holy Spirit, this question is already answered for us.

Here’s The Word:

Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Notice what King David says to his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

It’s clearly evident throughout Scripture that how our mind works is really important to God. It’s not some mysterious thing that operates like the Word Association game and whatever pops up, pops up. Our mind is something that we’re responsible for. Even if you try to disregard it and blame your circumstances for the state of your mind, you won’t be absolved of your responsibility, you’ll be dealt with accordingly for forfeiting the proper care and handling of your uniquely special gift.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Also notice the direct link between your mind and your faith. This makes unquestionable sense as we recognize our former state: Dead in our trespasses and sins. However, once we were made alive, a lot more happened than our names being written in The Lambs Book of Life, we were also afforded a new mind. I say afforded because it’s not as automatic as the spiritual aspects of “getting saved.” If that were the case, it wouldn’t matter how we lived or continued to live after conversion, but it does.

Our lives in Christ is a pursuit of perfection. A strength building, purifying faith journey against the flow of everything we used to easily associate ourselves. The Bible intently encourages us on how to be seriously engaged, beginning with renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). We don’t think much about the doctrine of the world. Why? Because it comes easy. There’s no book that needs to be read to go after selfish desires. Yet more than a few books have been written and read for those who want to do that in bigger and better ways.

For us, the process of renewing our minds is simple. Word association. We study God’s Word because it speaks to our minds, and when in humble submission, we allow these words of life to re-associate our old dead minds to a new, rich life, it grows and strengthens our faith. Remember faith comes by hearing, and hearing (comes by) the word of God – if we allow it, by receiving it. Aside of 2 Timothy 2:15, there are too many verses that associate our mind and actions with our profession. Go after it. Like David told Solomon “Seek him.” Associate yourself with His Word.

Back to the initial idea: The word association game is a good test to see where your mind is at any given time. If you see your responses leaning contrary to Philippians 4:8, find some study time. Our word association should look different from the worlds, shouldn’t it?


In Him,
Cros

Done

We have to continue our run, until He says "Well, done."


Ever start out, on a nice morning run,
The mist of the dawn, orange glow, rising sun.
You focus your mind, and you get a good stride,
Then all of a sudden, sharp pain in your side.

In that moment, your thought train’s derailed.
Your vision for winning, has just been impaled.
You don’t want to stop, you want to press through.
You know a strong mind, can pull a weak you.

But the pain is unrelenting, step after step.
Every heal strike, and every deep breath.
Worry creeps in, “Will I be overcome?”
"I started so strong, Oh please, don’t be done."

The lessons of life, we strive to achieve.
But when the going gets rough, some give up and leave
We welcome success, when we’re confident and sure.
Bu we seem ill-prepared for what it means to endure.

When it seems to go wrong, our mind closes in.
The loss clouds our view, discouraged to win.
What happened to hope? We were eager to run,
We second guess ourselves, Oh what have I done?

Not saying its easy, its all case by case.
The Bible lays it out, like running a race.
Saying all will run, but only one wins.
Teaching us to have resolve, before we even begin.

Run like a winner. Focus on the prize.
Every runner has pain. Every runner cries.
What about bad choices that can’t be made right?
Commitments made in haste, or born out of spite.

There’s a wide difference, between the words stop and quit.
It’s right to be done logically, rather than done, sick of it.
And also the goal, you know it’s worthwhile.
You know as you push on, there’s reason to smile.

Train your mind and mouth, use cautiously - “I’m done.”
In the Holy Spirit’s power, this race can surely be won.
Push past the pain, endure the struggle.
The reward in eternity, the rest from all trouble.

Know that HE is invested, that you go the length.
He’s there for us to cling to, and run in His strength.
Though what’s often most meaningful, isn’t much fun.
It’ll be worth it all, hearing Him say, “Well done.”


Here's The Word:

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.


In Him,
Cros

Just Desserts

This one probably isn’t for anyone but me, but I really need to go there.

Here’s The Word:

Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Breakdown – It is absolutely well supported in Scripture that the BIG idea behind all of this is, God ACTUALLY is indeed making a gift for His Son. A Bride. At the end of the age, the thing that will usher in the new age is the wedding feast of Christ and His Bride, The Church. Over the course of history, God’s chosen people; The Jews were to be the first shining example of the people of God, but as goes with us all, the pull of sin leads us to fulfil our own desires. However, this has never derailed God’s plan. Even when He sent His Son, Jesus to testify to “The Kingdom of Heaven”, giving a personal invitation, just like others sent before Him, He was put to death. This also has never derailed God’s plan. In God’s foreknowledge, He knew that this was going to happen and was part of His plan to create the perfect Bride. Christ is called the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8). Now, who is this last guy? He’s referred to as “Friend” but treated as anything but – being found without proper wedding attire, he’s thrown out. Notice this, it’s only the King who determined this. If the servants had known, they probably would’ve left this guy alone. The servants gathered all they could find “both bad and good” – it wasn’t up to them to decide, it was simply commissioned to them to invite.

Outside of the obviousness of this parable, true to form, it seems to me that our world has a problem with this “King”. We look at life from a selfish perspective and many don’t realize that they entertain religion through selfish ideas. Even this parable isn’t very popular as it makes us uncomfortable when we consider that anyone would be thrown out into outer darkness. We fall into sympathetic understanding of the pottery who asks the potter “Why have you made me thus?”(Romans 9:20) We fall into the mental back and forth of eternity having such high stakes, resolving that maybe it would be better if we were never made. Okay, or maybe it’s just me then.

The entire chapter of Romans 9 addresses this and yes, it’s hard. Especially verse 15 (I’ll leave it to you to prayerfully consider and ask for Spiritual illumination on that).

But what did God do? Other than what was His heart’s pleasure to do, we still need to see it rightfully rather than selfishly. From only what’s supported in Scripture, in God’s infinite mind, He had a benevolent idea: A gift for His Son. Not just any gift, but a “thing” like no other….ever. A wife.

A wife, developed over the ages that has the very real ability to love in the deepest understanding of the definition. This development required true choice, true consequence and true mercy. And as often as we fall into the mind of God’s difficult parts, if we really reflect on the history of this development, it has been us who’s been the wayward spouse. The unfaithful lover. The ungrateful recipient of grace. Yet, even this has never derailed God’s plan. Why? Because it wasn’t as much about us as it was the gift He’s going to give to His Son.

God chose a feeble, wretched, prostitute to show His perfect love to. We like the show perfect love part, but we try to get past the first part quickly because we don’t like feeling cheap. It’s this tendency that continues to make our fight harder than it needs to be. God didn’t just choose us, He empowers us to adorn ourselves. To submit to the Spirits perfecting of each of us who confess and commit to Christ.

Think about all that God personally paid to realize His plan. The Bible says that it was God’s pleasure to crush His Son, knowing that His Son died to purify The Bride. Spotless. Fulfilling His plan.

Yes, there are some hard truths about what happens to us if we dishonor the King. However, my point is this: Does God not deserve full benefit from His plan? Does the Son deserve a “lesser” bride because for us, sin is so strong?
It's true, we’re hard-wired to want, and sin beguiles us, offering quick and easy fulfillment to our various desires. But we’re also free to choose, and God mercifully gives the power to overcome it. Even though none of us could pay as high a price as He did to defeat sin on our behalf. The Father and His Christ, deserve every bit of glorious splendor that His marriage and wedding feast will display. Not only is He Sovereign, but He went the extra nth degree to show us mercies on top of mercies. He sacrificed more than we can imagine, and even still, He reaches out in patience, beckoning to us - BE RECONCILED TO GOD. Magnificently glorious. That’s the grateful appreciation that should invigorate our lives every day. That He’s accomplishing such a great work in such an unworthy vessel.

Think about it. Pray about it. Read about it. Be about it.

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.


In Him,
Cros