Michael continues his
message on “perspective” writing that the book "Voices from the Edge of
Eternity," records the last words of people on their death beds. Many
people when being administered "last rites" to confess Jesus as Lord
say, "It's too late." However, when Jesus woos us, he bids us
"taste and see that the Lord is
good. Blessed is the man that trusts in Him." He says, "now is the acceptable year of the Lord." To
those He has chosen, he reveals His Word. If
any man is in Christ he is a new creation ... old things are passed away, all
things are become new.
Gary Stubblefield said,
"Christianity starts with an invasion of God into our lives. The
harder we run, the greater He pursues us. Life's cataclysmic moments, when we
are broken by running to escape God's hot pursuit, are our "come to Jesus
moments." - Come to Jesus ... and live. The real life
change is when he opens the eyes of our spiritual understanding ... when we
come to the revelation that we're forgiven of our sins by the blood of Jesus.
We will understand what it means to love God when we understand that He first
loved us. For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish but have everlasting life.
Salvation is all of God and
none of us. For by grace are you saved
through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works
lest any man should boast. There's
nothing I could ever do to earn salvation. It's not of my works but of the
completed work of Jesus Christ on my behalf ... for he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our
behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Our Heavenly Father
shows compassion to His children, even when they stray. God is a God of
loving kindness and tender mercies; they are His attributes. The kindness and
goodness of God leads a man and woman to repentance. We undervalue the
power of kindness. God will get a hold of our hearts when we forsake our
own sinful nature and turn to His loving kindness.
God instructed his prophet
Hosea to marry a prostitute to teach the nation of Israel a lesson. This
was an example of God's loving kindness and mercy to Israel even when they
kept on committing adultery with other gods. How many times should we
forgive? Jesus said, not seven
times but seventy times seven. The prodigal son when he returned home,
rehearsed his speech to his dad, "I'm
no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired
servants." The parable of the prodigal son is the parable of the
forgiving father. He didn't allow his son to finish his speech. We're
loved not because we're lovable. We're forgiven, not because we deserve
forgiveness. Love and forgiveness is the nature of our Heavenly Father. When
the prodigal son was afar off, the forgiving father ran to meet him, embraced
him and restored him to an upright position.
Psalm 34
says, "Therefore let not your good
be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Jesus said, "Blessed are they when men shall revile you
and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake,
for great is your reward in heaven." Loving kindness and tender
mercy is the characteristic of God himself. Therefore, recompense to no man evil for evil ... be not overcome with evil, but
overcome evil with good.
May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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