Traditions

October 31, 2007

Traditions can be a good thing. As I write this, I have helped at my church in the presenting of a Hallelujah party. It is an annual event done as a web for a safe alternative to trick or treat. The church has done it as far back as I can remember, long before I became a member there. It is a tradition. Traditions can get to be a problem though.

Mark 7:9 ALT
(9) And He was saying to them, "[All too] well do you* regard as nothing the commandment of God, so that you* should keep your* tradition.


If what we do in our traditions counteracts the word of God, the Bible, then we are wrong. We can wind up calling something a tradition, but in reality it is a sin. As a Christian, I let the world celebrate Halloween , it is not something that I will do or let my children do. I have had people tell me it is a silly tradition. Tradition, maybe; silly, nope! It is a holiday that worships evil spirits. You can wrap it up any way you want, but that is what it is. Because of that, it is a tradition that I will not keep, I will obey the commands of God.

Of course that is just one. Any one else have some traditions that we need to shut down?

See yourself

October 30, 2007


Genesis 17:5 VW
(5) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.


I always wondered why the name change. God had a simple reason. He need to get Abram to change his image. Abram in the Hebrew means high-father. Usually this meant the one who rules. But Abraham meant father of many nations. By changing his image from one who is a ruler (which he did as he was a rich man) to one who had many children, God changed Abram's image of himself.

We often have to do the same thing. While we do not do anything as drastic as a name change, we need to change our image of ourselves. If we do not, we will not see us as God sees us.

Time machine

October 29, 2007

Acts 13:47 CEV
(47) The Lord has given us this command, "I have placed you here as a light for the Gentiles. You are to take the saving power of God to people everywhere on earth."


God gave the command to Paul to go to the Gentiles. He was to be a light to them. It was a command that he did.

What an interesting thing if he did not. We would not have the liberty we have in knowing Jesus.

What command has God given you? Will it affect someone tomorrow, or maybe even 2000 years from now?

Swear

October 28, 2007

Hebrews 6:13 KJV
(13) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Did you ever think about the promise God made to Abraham. He made a promise to Abraham and as a way of promising that it would happen he swore by himself. When you swear a promise you have to do it by someone or thing that has the power to make it come to pass. Who could God go to.

There is no one greater than God. And you know what else, there is no greater name than the name of Jesus.

Condemnation

October 27, 2007

John 3:17 AUV-NT
(17) For God did not send His Son into the world to be its judge [i.e., to condemn it], but [rather] so that the people of the world could be saved [from condemnation] though Him.

Jesus did not come into this world to judge it. What a delight it was to learn this. I came from a strong sin conscious denomination when I was growing up. What a relief to find out that God and His Son did not come to judge me, but to save me from being condemned. WOW!

Now, can I do stuff wrong. Yes, and I do. I ask God to forgive me and I know it is done because Jesus covers my sins. I cannot continue to sin in those ways with out getting some punishment, but each time I as forgiveness when I sin, and I really mean it, then it gets harder for me to sin that way the next time.

I no longer have that image of God with a big hammer wanting to get me, more like a father who wants me, His child, to succeed.

Eyes of Fire

October 26, 2007

Ever wonder what Jesus looked like? I have. One day I came across this description in Revelations and it scared me.

Revelation 1:14 RYLT-NT
(14) and his head and hairs white, as if white wool -- as snow, and his eyes as a flame of fire;

Can you imagine seeing Jesus in heaven? Those eyes, flames of fire looking at you. His hair whiter than any thing that you have ever seen. What will those do when they look at you. Will they remind you of every sin you committed? Will you be able so see because the white hot light of His hair.

I am glad that I have Jesus as my savior. I wonder if this look of his was for men like John who were still in their natural bodies. It does make you wonder what He will be like.

You've got questions...

October 25, 2007

Philippians 4:13 KJV
(13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Many times over the years that I have fixed computers, I have come across problems that I could not solve. It is a very difficult feeling, not knowing what to do to get the problem resolved when I am suppose to be the one that knows all the tricks.

At times like that I have relied on scriptures. One of them is today's. When I feel that I cannot answer the question, a quick prayer to God to help and you know what? The answer looks at me in the face.

It happened just today in getting a network to work that was not cooperating.

Take time to ask God when problems come your way that you cannot solve. He strenghtens you to get the answers you need.