Tag: holy spirit

A Note to Image Bearers

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As image bearers we are not above one another but equal in value.  As those who bear the image of God, we are but a reflection and not God or gods ourselves.  God has gloriously, mercifully, and totally on His own doing offered us a place in His family under His headship to those who call Jesus Christ both Lord and Savior.  There is nothing that the image bearer themselves can or will do to earn this gift, since it is of grace alone. 

Though we bear His image, we are underserving due to our sin. God clearly and precisely warns that sin incurs a debt which can only be paid with death.  We also know that all debt must be paid since God is just, righteous, and holy.  That wage was paid for in the life and death of Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son and God Himself.  You may ask why “life” was included in the previous statement since death is the required payment.  This is because the sacrifice of Christ had to be without sin or blemish.  This had to be a perfect and complete sacrifice that would have endless value over the totality of debt sin could ever invoice.  The capital of Jesus’ work on the cross is inexhaustible. 

However, not everyone will accept the work of Jesus on their behalf for their own debt.  To those who do, they will have a place in the house of the Lord forever.  To those who do not, they will suffer under the weight of their debt and perish forever.  Woe to all who think they can pay their own way without understanding the severity of what they face.  But they will not be spared since they hardened their hearts to their Creator and chose to live as they wished and refused to call Jesus Christ Lord and Savior.  Woe to those who think they are saved by calling Jesus only Lord or Savior but not both.  For they will be turned away and told that He never knew them and suffer the same fate. 

As image bearers, we are called to be like God.  To be holy.  We can only be seen as righteous and holy if we are filled with the Holy Spirit who is God. This indwelling can only happen with the acceptance of the blood of Jesus Christ. When God dwells within you, you will be made to be like Him. You will desire to praise, please, and worship God.  He will finish what He has put in place and save all those who call His Son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.

The Mountain or The Mole Hill?

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  To some, my bold perspective and words carry such confidence that my conviction is seen as a mountain of faith with a mighty river of wisdom.  To others, my squawking and babbling is more like a mole hill next to run off from the neighbor’s leaky hose.  The difference between those responses is not my words but how one’s spirit and soul will receive them.  Recently I chose to focus on my calling in life.  God’s plan for me is to council others by giving them hope and taking their shame.  To show them they have a choice of a fulfilling life.  My prayers have lately been lathered with eagerness to serve and soaked in my commitment to excel.  Two days ago, I met with four brothers over two different meetings.  I listened more than I spoke in the first meeting and did the opposite in the second.  God has been reminding me of why I have two ears and one mouth, so I have been doing my best to follow that advice which did not come naturally for me.  After my day was done, I was praying for even more to put on my plate to keep my mission active.

  The next morning, a brother of mine texted me to tell me he hopes I find rest in my current season of life. I took offense to this concern.  “I don’t want rest for I am eager for battle” came to my mind.  This brother knows I have walked a painful life with many dark battles. Those who know of my life see me as either a battle-hardened hero born of war or an irresponsible child whose family is a casualty of that same war.  That text message caught me off-guard which allowed me to fall into an old trap by the enemy.  “He sees me as weak” came to mind which I could not let slide.  So, I quickly told him I was not only unwary but thirsty for more.  A short while later, my feelings still lingered but the thought crossed my mind that maybe I was overreacting.  Maybe, but probably not.  I replied letting him know that he could have some insight that I was blind to and thanked him for thinking of me.

  As the day progressed, I woke up to my wife reminding me that I should not oversleep since I needed to wake up early for work.  So, I got up and made a pot of coffee to keep me alert until bedtime.  The next morning I heard a sermon that referenced Hebrews 11:24 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (NASB 1977).  This intrigued me since the pastor was specifically talking about the wording of “grown up” in the verse so I meditated on it for a short time.  Out of nowhere I get this revelation.  I am not as grown up as I thought I was.  That reaction I had to the resting text message exposed me to be callow.  I was putting a hero complex on like a plastic badge from the dollar store and thought I had authority.  The reality is that at times, even with solid advice and good intentions, I can really act like a child with a sword.  God was entertaining my juvenility for a while, but it was about time someone showed me I was a danger to myself or others with how I was wielding this weapon.  With knowledge comes power, and with power comes responsibility.  I must slow down and grow up to do the mission I asked for.  Now I am left with one question:  Do I want to take the time to become that hero on the mountain or does this child just want to play on the mole hill?