Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2015

I Find Love (When I Look at the Cross)

I know what "self-sacrificing" means in English; but to see it expressed in another language gave me a new and deeper perspective than I have ever had. The Spanish word misericordia means "self-sacrificing." When I look at the word, I see three parts: one, the root ser which means being or existence; two, although I do not know this to be true in Spanish, mis- in English is usually a negative prefix (meaning whatever follows is not true); and three cordia , which reminds me of the Spanish word for heart, corazón . The rough interpretation that immediately entered my head was "a heart that is willing to give up its existence." For me, that was powerful. The Bible expresses it this way: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Self-sacrificing love is a love that cares so much about you that I do not care about me anymore. It is a love that feels that your life, even without me in it, is more

I Find Mercy (When I Look at the Cross)

But do I accept it? I believe that one of the most difficult hurdles in the plan of salvation is in overcoming the belief that God is out to get me. Sure, we understand that in theory; it makes sense when we are in line with His will. But what about when I fall -   doesn't He have to punish me? No , you say. That is what Jesus died for. Fine. My penalty is paid. But what about blessings: surely, I am undeserving of those . Well... Hardened by Mercy And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:3) Notice firstly that this is the Lord speaking. It did always puzzle me why God would harden Pharaoh's heart on purpose seeing that He really wanted Israel free. After all, it was just as much torture for them as it was for the king of Egypt. But I have discovered an answer - one that hurts. It hurts because... I do that . My family and I have been listening to a series of articles written in the 1890&

Can These Bones Live?

In family worship, we have been reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are many deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other mysteries that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. The prophet is taken in the Spirit of the Lord to a valley - a valley of dry bones. These bones did not just appear yesterday. Whoever owned them had been dead for quite a while, and their bones had been exposed to sun and wind for some time as well. As he walks about in the desolate valley, looking on the multitude of bones, the Lord asks, "Ezekiel, can these bones live?" Could they? "You know, Lord." The next words from the mouth of the Most High are these: "...Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, 'O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unt

Looking for Me

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed.   I was lost, but now am found. But who found me? Who was looking for me? "For thus saith the Lord God; 'Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.' " (Ezekiel 34:11) And why does He want to find me ? "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep , and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." (Ezekiel 34:12) And as my favorite Scripture says, "I have called you by your name; you are Mine " (Isaiah 43:1). The Cloudy and Dark Day It i

I Have Made a Covenant with My Eyes: The Issue of Pornography

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. " Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men , and didst commit whoredom with them.." (Ezekiel 16:17). My little brother asked Dad, "This is pornography, right?" To be true, the context of this chapter is spiritual adultery. But God uses physical adultery to describe the grossness of Judah's crime. Therefore, this verse can easily be applied to pornography. Pornography is a delicate, yet serious issue; and that is why I am choosing to address it bluntly and openly. But what exactly is it? Definition It i

What Kind of Inheritance?

This reading on motherhood and prenatal influences explains the results seen in Ezekiel 19.    And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? Judges 13:12 .   The words spoken to the wife of Manoah contain a truth that the mothers of today would do well to study.   The child will be affected for good or for evil by the habits of the mother . She must herself be controlled by principle, and must practice temperance and self-denial, if she would seek the welfare of her child.   If before the birth of her child she is unstable, if she is selfish, peevish, and exacting, the disposition of her child will bear the marks of her wrong course.... But if she unswervingly adheres to the right, if she is kind, gentle, and unselfish, she will give her child these traits of character.   And fathers as well as mothers are involved in this responsibility. Both parents transmit their own characteri

My Blood is Not Good Enough

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. There she was. A baby. Abandoned. Bloody. Polluted. God describes it this way in Ezekiel 16:4-6: And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee ; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood , I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when

The True Israel

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. After reading Ezekiel 15 (which compares Israel to a vine tree), my littlest brother said, "But Jesus is the vine, so Jesus is the true Israel." Yes , Jesus is the vine and we His servants are the branches. So if in Ezekiel 15 the vine is Israel, then Jesus must also be Israel; making Him the true Israel. Jesus = Vine (John 15) Vine = Israel (Ezekiel 15) Jesus = Israel Logically, this makes sense. However, I disagreed at first. Jesus, the true Israel? Somehow it did not connect in my mind. But my dad pointed out this Scripture: "...Israel is My son, even My firstborn... (Exodus 4:2

Made to Bear Fruit to the Glory of God

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. What is my purpose on this earth? Why did God make me? This evening in worship, we read from Ezekiel 15. Its eight verses left a deep impression and an important lesson. God did for me for a purpose. And He strives to lead me in that purpose. But , I can only attain to that purpose when I am fully connected to Him. Are you connected? My dad connected the chapter with John 15:5-6, 8: I [Jesus] am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; an

Who Created the World?

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed.   After writing last night's post ("The Word of God"), I realized that the Bible teaches that the Son of God was the active agent in Creation. In other words, God the Father planned it, and God the Son executed it. How do we come to that conclusion? Well we learned that Jesus is the Word - that He has always been the Word, even before His incarnation. We also learned that the Son of God does in fact take commands from the Father; that is their order of things. With those lessons in mind, consider this text: " By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breat

The Word of God

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. How many men were commissioned by God in Ezekiel 9? There are six with swords; but among them was a man in linen with an inkhorn at his side... In Revelation 1, Jesus is said to be walking among the candlesticks. But is that humanly possible? (We are allowed to consider the human element of the Son of God because John says, "one like unto the Son of man," a reference for the Son of God incarnate or made flesh.) Jesus would not be in the candlesticks or be a candlestick Himself; no, He would be in the general area of the candlesticks - in their presence, so to speak. The same can be said of Him in Ezekiel

A Duty to Report

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. I learned something wonderful and interesting while reading Ezekiel 9. A job is not complete until it is reported to the one who commanded the work. Example: The man in linen is sent by God to complete a mission. When the mission was complete, the man in linen returns to God and reports the matter. Now, my belief is that the man in linen is the Son of God based on Daniel 12:5-13. Here, the man in linen tells Daniel that he (Daniel) will stand in his lot at the latter days. In other words, Daniel will pass the judgment and be admitted into heaven at the end of time. Who else has the authority to say who is saved and who

Sin is Sin... Right?

In family worship, we have reading from the book of Ezekiel. There are a lot of deep and awesome truths found in that book, some of which unlock other controversies that we have yet to understand. Throughout the coming weeks, I will write about the book of Ezekiel based on various points my family members bring out each night. I pray that you will blessed. After a family reading of Ezekiel 8, my mom said that it seems there are some sins that God hates more than others. Note God's words to Ezekiel. "He said furthermore unto me, 'Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations ' " (verse 6). Here is the background: Ezekiel, a civilian* captive in Babylon,was taken in vision back to Jerusalem. God wanted him to see the wickedness of Judah so that he could understand God's justice wh