Perfection.
God requires you to be perfect.
Jesus said it: "Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect."
As God loves His enemies, His children are to love theirs.
As God the Father is, His heavenly children should be.
The Apostle Peter said it, "Be holy as God is holy."
We are to be as perfect and holy as God.
How?
Our faith should express itself in love, and our love should express itself in obedience.
Our faith should express itself in obedience to God's commands.
What are His commands?
Love God supremely.
Love people impartially.
According to Jesus, those two commands summarize and epitomize God's law, or God's will, for you and me. Our faith in Jesus should express itself in supremely loving God and loving people impartially, even our enemies.
These two commands are reasonable and aren't burdensome.
They make sense, and they aren't hard to obey, once you believe in Jesus.
God wants you to love Him with all of your heart and soul and strength. He doesn't expect more because He can't expect more. You can't give more than you have, but you shouldn't give less than you have.
God wants you to love people like you love yourself, to treat people like you want to be treated.
He doesn't expect you to love people more than you love yourself, but He also doesn't expect you to love them less than you love yourself.
All God requires is love as expression of your faith.
If you meet His requirement, not striving for more, nor settling for less, you will be perfect.
Let no one deceive you.
God accepts nothing less.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
How to hear the voice of Jesus
Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." John 18:37 NASB
You can hear the voice of Jesus, if you want to.
Do you want to?
If you want to hear the voice of Jesus, meet two conditions, summed up in one sentence:
Seek the truth.
When you decide to seek the truth, meet two conditions:
1. Seek the truth impartially.
2. Seek the truth reverently.
If you do these two things, you will hear and know the voice of Jesus.
SEEK THE TRUTH IMPARTIALLY.
Do you want to know the truth, no matter what it is, no matter what the consequences? Do you want to know the truth even if it means you must change your beliefs and your entire life? Put it this way. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for my sins, and that He rose from the dead. But if my beliefs were proven false beyond all doubt, I would change my beliefs. Again, if someone disproved beyond all doubt the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus, then I would change my beliefs and life. What about you? If you are an atheist, and you had a supernatural experience with Jesus that disproved your naturalistic, scientific, atheistic beliefs, would you change your beliefs and life? This is the only way to find and know the truth, and in doing so find the voice of Jesus. But you must supremely respect the voice you seek. You must revere what you are about to hear.
SEEK THE TRUTH REVERENTLY
Pilate asked Jesus if He were a King. Jesus agreed that He was (and is) a king, The King. The Voice of the King should not be taken lightly or disrespectfully. What you seek is not for your entertainment, but is the voice that holds your atoms together. The voice of Jesus is The Reality that holds together every reality and personality. To take his voice lightly is to take your life lightly. The truth deserves our fullest attention and respect. If we don't give it these, we don't really want the truth. And we will get what we want: a life built on lies and deceptions. The choice is ours.
Seek the truth impartially and reverently.
In doing so you will hear the voice of Jesus.
You can hear the voice of Jesus, if you want to.
Do you want to?
If you want to hear the voice of Jesus, meet two conditions, summed up in one sentence:
Seek the truth.
When you decide to seek the truth, meet two conditions:
1. Seek the truth impartially.
2. Seek the truth reverently.
If you do these two things, you will hear and know the voice of Jesus.
SEEK THE TRUTH IMPARTIALLY.
Do you want to know the truth, no matter what it is, no matter what the consequences? Do you want to know the truth even if it means you must change your beliefs and your entire life? Put it this way. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for my sins, and that He rose from the dead. But if my beliefs were proven false beyond all doubt, I would change my beliefs. Again, if someone disproved beyond all doubt the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus, then I would change my beliefs and life. What about you? If you are an atheist, and you had a supernatural experience with Jesus that disproved your naturalistic, scientific, atheistic beliefs, would you change your beliefs and life? This is the only way to find and know the truth, and in doing so find the voice of Jesus. But you must supremely respect the voice you seek. You must revere what you are about to hear.
SEEK THE TRUTH REVERENTLY
Pilate asked Jesus if He were a King. Jesus agreed that He was (and is) a king, The King. The Voice of the King should not be taken lightly or disrespectfully. What you seek is not for your entertainment, but is the voice that holds your atoms together. The voice of Jesus is The Reality that holds together every reality and personality. To take his voice lightly is to take your life lightly. The truth deserves our fullest attention and respect. If we don't give it these, we don't really want the truth. And we will get what we want: a life built on lies and deceptions. The choice is ours.
Seek the truth impartially and reverently.
In doing so you will hear the voice of Jesus.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
How to resist every temptation (part 4)
You're too sensitive!
Usually Diane's face reddens when Jenna says that. Not today.
You are! I can barely make a suggestion without you getting all defensive. I'm just trying to help.
Diane's pale, freckled skin remains unchanged.
Jenna waits with squinted eyes, but nothing happens. What's different about Diane?
I can choose or refuse to respond to Jenna. I can escape her anger traps. My lips are doors. I alone have the key to open them. My words are safe inside. My ears are windows. Locked windows. Only encouraging words can shine through. The blinds are shut to everything else.
Oh, so you're giving me the silent treatment? Real mature Diane. Real mature.
Excuse me.
Yeah, right.
Diane goes to the bathroom. She stands with her back against the closed bathroom door.
God, please help me.
Diane takes a deep breath and feels her blood flow slowly and smoothly through her body. She leaves the bathroom and goes back to the living room and sits down.
Jenna, please don't give me unsolicited advice.
Whatever Diane. You never seemed to mind before.
You're right, I didn't seem to mind because I didn't tell you how I felt. The reason I don't want you to give me unsolicited advice is because I don't feel like we're friends when you do it. I feel like you're talking down to me, like a mother talks to a foolish daughter.
After a minute of silence...
I don't mean it like that. I really don't. It's just who I am. I'm just being myself. Why can't you accept that?
Here's what we can do. If you ask me whether I want your advice, I can tell you if I do or don't. But if you give it to me without asking, then I'll leave the room if I can, or ignore you if I can't.
Oh, so you'll ignore me or leave me? Fine. If that's what you feel like you need to do.
Is there anything else I can say to work this out with you, Jenna. I really hope so. I love you and I need you as my friend, but not as my mother or counselor.
Jenna cries.
I love you too Diane. I'm sorry. I don't know how to stop giving advice. It's like I hear a problem and feel like I have the answer to it, so I just say it. But I don't want to treat you like you're a foolish little girl. Please don't ignore me or leave me. Tell me when I'm doing it and I'll try to stop.
Alright, I'll do that, if you really agree to try and stop counseling me.
I do agree to that. I love you Diane.
I love you to Jenna.
Usually Diane's face reddens when Jenna says that. Not today.
You are! I can barely make a suggestion without you getting all defensive. I'm just trying to help.
Diane's pale, freckled skin remains unchanged.
Jenna waits with squinted eyes, but nothing happens. What's different about Diane?
I can choose or refuse to respond to Jenna. I can escape her anger traps. My lips are doors. I alone have the key to open them. My words are safe inside. My ears are windows. Locked windows. Only encouraging words can shine through. The blinds are shut to everything else.
Oh, so you're giving me the silent treatment? Real mature Diane. Real mature.
Excuse me.
Yeah, right.
Diane goes to the bathroom. She stands with her back against the closed bathroom door.
God, please help me.
Diane takes a deep breath and feels her blood flow slowly and smoothly through her body. She leaves the bathroom and goes back to the living room and sits down.
Jenna, please don't give me unsolicited advice.
Whatever Diane. You never seemed to mind before.
You're right, I didn't seem to mind because I didn't tell you how I felt. The reason I don't want you to give me unsolicited advice is because I don't feel like we're friends when you do it. I feel like you're talking down to me, like a mother talks to a foolish daughter.
After a minute of silence...
I don't mean it like that. I really don't. It's just who I am. I'm just being myself. Why can't you accept that?
Here's what we can do. If you ask me whether I want your advice, I can tell you if I do or don't. But if you give it to me without asking, then I'll leave the room if I can, or ignore you if I can't.
Oh, so you'll ignore me or leave me? Fine. If that's what you feel like you need to do.
Is there anything else I can say to work this out with you, Jenna. I really hope so. I love you and I need you as my friend, but not as my mother or counselor.
Jenna cries.
I love you too Diane. I'm sorry. I don't know how to stop giving advice. It's like I hear a problem and feel like I have the answer to it, so I just say it. But I don't want to treat you like you're a foolish little girl. Please don't ignore me or leave me. Tell me when I'm doing it and I'll try to stop.
Alright, I'll do that, if you really agree to try and stop counseling me.
I do agree to that. I love you Diane.
I love you to Jenna.
How to resist every temptation (part 3)
they accidentally touched hands, reaching for a straw for their coffee, at the Starbucks's counter with spices and sugars. he felt fire desire in his chest, breathing faster and harder. he looked into her eyes after the touch and saw dark brown invitations. so soft and warm, her fingers melted into his. her skin and breath are vanilla. his heart beats as he comes to see this reality: she wants him, and he wants her. he knows it. "Take me if you want me; I want you to take me." these words are heard in his mind, a translation of her passion expression through physical connection. her touch.
if he accepts her invitation, then he will no longer be a virgin. all of these years he's saved himself for "the one." but where is she? maybe she just touched him. no. "the one" would help him wait. he didn't touch the one. he touched fire. he must find water, the escape from his desire.
"what are you thinking about?" she asked with a voice lulling him into a sensuous dream.
"what are you thinking about? he responded.
"you...and me...together..."
the way she said "together" made him want her then and there and now...where was the water for the fire?
it's all happening so quickly. all he wanted was to relax and enjoy some jazz at his favorite coffee shop. he didn't come to lose his virginity. and he never thought the possibility could happen so quickly. or maybe it's all fantasy. he'll test it out.
"what do you mean 'together'?"
"after our coffee, we leave, and we're alone...at your place or mine...on your couch or mine...doing whatever you have in mind."
and there it was. it wasn't just in his head. what he felt coming from her was real.
"but we don't know each other..."
"do we need to? do you need to know me to enjoy me, to enjoy my body?"
if it wasn't explicit before, it is now.
where is the water, the escape from fire?
"excuse me."
he went to the counter...and bought some water. he took a drink, giving him time to think.
"God, help me."
"is everything ok?" she asked, now with him at the counter.
"yeah. I have to go."
"are you sure?"
"i'm sure."
"maybe we can hook up another time?"
"i'm sorry. I've gotta go."
"alright. nice to meet you."
"you too."
he left quickly.
he drove to another coffee shop about 20 minutes away.
sitting.
drinking.
thinking.
God makes a way of escape from every temptation. Maybe the escape is literal. When I felt the heat of passion, I drank cold water, which was available. It literally cooled me off. I could leave. I could leave her at that coffee shop. I could literally escape that coffee shop, literally "flee from sexual immorality," like Paul said. Joseph literally ran away from Potiphar's wife. He wouldn't sleep with her or be with her. Joseph wouldn't be with her. He could leave. He had a way to leave, a way to escape.
I actually noticed her coming in...her walk sparked interest...her sway ignited intrigue...what if I left then...what if I prayed right then, "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one?"
Avoidance would've been better than escape. Next time, I'll avoid "her." It's better to avoid her than to escape her or flee from her.
after he thought, he felt stronger, wiser, and more secure.
he finished his coffee and enjoyed the jazz.
click HERE for part four
if he accepts her invitation, then he will no longer be a virgin. all of these years he's saved himself for "the one." but where is she? maybe she just touched him. no. "the one" would help him wait. he didn't touch the one. he touched fire. he must find water, the escape from his desire.
"what are you thinking about?" she asked with a voice lulling him into a sensuous dream.
"what are you thinking about? he responded.
"you...and me...together..."
the way she said "together" made him want her then and there and now...where was the water for the fire?
it's all happening so quickly. all he wanted was to relax and enjoy some jazz at his favorite coffee shop. he didn't come to lose his virginity. and he never thought the possibility could happen so quickly. or maybe it's all fantasy. he'll test it out.
"what do you mean 'together'?"
"after our coffee, we leave, and we're alone...at your place or mine...on your couch or mine...doing whatever you have in mind."
and there it was. it wasn't just in his head. what he felt coming from her was real.
"but we don't know each other..."
"do we need to? do you need to know me to enjoy me, to enjoy my body?"
if it wasn't explicit before, it is now.
where is the water, the escape from fire?
water.
fire.
exit.
these three words came to his spirit, his intuition, combined. each word flowed into the other. literal and metaphorical. spiritual and physical. he knew. he knew his way of escape."excuse me."
he went to the counter...and bought some water. he took a drink, giving him time to think.
"God, help me."
"is everything ok?" she asked, now with him at the counter.
"yeah. I have to go."
"are you sure?"
"i'm sure."
"maybe we can hook up another time?"
"i'm sorry. I've gotta go."
"alright. nice to meet you."
"you too."
he left quickly.
he drove to another coffee shop about 20 minutes away.
sitting.
drinking.
thinking.
God makes a way of escape from every temptation. Maybe the escape is literal. When I felt the heat of passion, I drank cold water, which was available. It literally cooled me off. I could leave. I could leave her at that coffee shop. I could literally escape that coffee shop, literally "flee from sexual immorality," like Paul said. Joseph literally ran away from Potiphar's wife. He wouldn't sleep with her or be with her. Joseph wouldn't be with her. He could leave. He had a way to leave, a way to escape.
I actually noticed her coming in...her walk sparked interest...her sway ignited intrigue...what if I left then...what if I prayed right then, "Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one?"
Avoidance would've been better than escape. Next time, I'll avoid "her." It's better to avoid her than to escape her or flee from her.
after he thought, he felt stronger, wiser, and more secure.
he finished his coffee and enjoyed the jazz.
click HERE for part four
Saturday, December 6, 2014
How to resist every temptation (Part 2)
Every temptation has a God given way of escape. The primary escape from temptation is avoidance, as the Lord's prayer says:
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Avoid all known areas of temptation.
Run from them.
Permanently remove every known cause of sin in your life.
Run.
Don't walk.
Avoid.
Sometimes we think we should grit our teeth and bear situations of temptation, staying around tempting people or places.
No.
We should avoid everyone and everything that tempts us if we can.
If we can't, then we know it is a temptation we can bear and escape.
But the first way of escape God gives us is the ability to avoid most temptations.
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Avoid all known areas of temptation.
Run from them.
Permanently remove every known cause of sin in your life.
Run.
Don't walk.
Avoid.
Sometimes we think we should grit our teeth and bear situations of temptation, staying around tempting people or places.
No.
We should avoid everyone and everything that tempts us if we can.
If we can't, then we know it is a temptation we can bear and escape.
But the first way of escape God gives us is the ability to avoid most temptations.
If you agree, pray with me:
Our Father in heaven,
Lead us not into temptation.
Deliver us from Satan.
Amen.
click HERE for part three
How to resist every temptation
If you want to resist every temptation, you need to know something and find something:
1. Know the truth about every temptation.
2. Find the escape from every temptation.
It is written,
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
NO TEMPTATION IS NEW
This is the truth about every temptation:
Someone in the present, past, and future is experiencing, has experienced, or will experience the same kind of temptation you are experiencing. It won't have a new power or technique. It won't be unheard of and undefeated. This is what you need to know: There is no new temptation.
NO TEMPTATION IS INESCAPABLE
You can resist it. It has been resisted before, it is being resisted right now by someone in the world, and it will be resisted in the future....by you. God, the almighty, all knowing, has made it so that EVERY temptation has a built in escape. The skill you and I need to develop is seeing the temptation exit signs...the temptation fire escapes. Every temptation has an exit sign written in red light letters. Every temptation has a fire escape with a loud alarm.
There is no new or inescapable temptation.
click HERE for part two
1. Know the truth about every temptation.
2. Find the escape from every temptation.
It is written,
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
NO TEMPTATION IS NEW
This is the truth about every temptation:
Every temptation is common to every human, every man and every woman.
You will NEVER experience a NEW AND IMPROVED temptation.
Never.
Ever.
Someone in the present, past, and future is experiencing, has experienced, or will experience the same kind of temptation you are experiencing. It won't have a new power or technique. It won't be unheard of and undefeated. This is what you need to know: There is no new temptation.
NO TEMPTATION IS INESCAPABLE
You can resist it. It has been resisted before, it is being resisted right now by someone in the world, and it will be resisted in the future....by you. God, the almighty, all knowing, has made it so that EVERY temptation has a built in escape. The skill you and I need to develop is seeing the temptation exit signs...the temptation fire escapes. Every temptation has an exit sign written in red light letters. Every temptation has a fire escape with a loud alarm.
There is no new or inescapable temptation.
click HERE for part two
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