1)
Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2)
By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.
3)
And
not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4)
And
patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5)
And
hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
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are used to trying to access all sorts of information. In fact, in the age in
which we live, the more technologically "savvy" we are, the more
"with it" we are considered to be. Typically, our quest for
"info" is almost insatiable. We do constant upgrades on our computers
and buy the newest, the best, the biggest and the fastest.
Now,
with all of our focus on the "gadgets" of this life, the Lord is
trying to get our attention in order to help us to learn to access what
pertains to the
We
can know , without
a shadow of a doubt, that we need to change,
but if we do not understand how, we will convince ourselves to be satisfied
because, after all, we're doing the best that we can do. Aren't we?
When
and if we ever come to understand how
to access the things of God by faith, we will need to know exactly what has
been purchased for us. Though we may wish to "do" and "be"
for the Lord, all too often, it is on our own terms. That is, we remain largely
ignorant of Who the Lord is and what He has done and
construct our own "philosophy" of salvation. We must understand that
this is not a "build-your-own-model" proposition but rather, is very
much a life of conformity. Of necessity, "conformity" requires
knowledge and familiarity.
Too
many of the "religiously oriented" today, are just that—oriented to
"religion" but not to Jesus Christ. One can have many degrees and can
have read the Bible through every year, but if that knowledge is not coupled
with a personal relationship with the Lord, what has one really amassed?
Then,
too, we have those who have received
the revelation of Jesus Christ, but cannot bring themselves to trust Him. Exactly
where are they? We can say with certainty that they are not pleasing to God,
for He has let us know that one cannot
please Him unless he be willing to believe
Him.
It
is "time out" for excusing oneself for not trusting God by using the
old "I-don't-have-that-kind-of-faith" line. It may just seem an easy
way out of being lazy, but what it really means
is that one will go without blessings, knowledge or any of the gifts and
fruit of the Spirit. Why? Because nothing can be obtained
from God outside of faith. All that He offers, indeed, all that He is is revealed
to us through one simple act on our part--belief.
What
kind of man does it take to "be all that (he) can be" in the Lord? A
man who has come to the ultimate revelation of himself--the man who
understands, without a shadow of a doubt, that he knows nothing --and what little bit he thought that he knew wasn't worth the "gray matter" that
it took up. You see, as long as one feels that there is merit in relying on his
own ability and "mental prowess," he will miss God's point that
without a Savior, he would be headed to that great Abyss, where no one will
care about your credentials or self-image and worse still, will not be
interested in listening to you.
How
is it possible that so many of us with the Holy Ghost are so miserable? For one
thing, too many of us are walking about as though we are missing an arm or a
leg. How so? We are still experiencing feelings of "incompleteness"
despite the Holy Ghost. They are allowed to persist only because we refuse to
carry out the purpose of the Lord. How could one ever feel complete as long as there is a part of himself that he
will not "graft"(or, accept) onto his body?
This
failure to complete the transplantation process would have a tendency to
"disturb" one, at least. Not only would he be uncomfortable, but a
"freak" of sorts, as well. It would be hard to ever truly be at peace or
rest as long as a body part was missing. Just as in the natural, the spiritual
man is frustrated when he will not accept his Head. The "body"
actually has not the faintest idea what direction to go, or what is appropriate
for it to do.
Some
of us are pitiful and the only one who does not
seem to know it is us! We need some
serious help and the only way that we
are going to get it is by inviting the Lord into our situation! You see,
He will do nothing without being
invited to intervene. So, to effectively "summon" Him, we need to
know how to pray and what to pray for. One thing is certain:
the Lord will never "arrive" without being "drawn," for He
is determined that the devil not be able to accuse Him of "meddling"
in the affairs of men.
Some
of us like merry-go-rounds--but only the kind from which we can get down. If
you recognize that your life is
making you "nauseous," why not make a decision, today, to do whatever
is necessary to gain access to all of
the information offered by God? After all, what do you have to lose—but a
little faith? n