Marching Forth!

Complaining is one of those things all people tend to do that is not necessarily sinful in itself yet can be an indication of a wicked heart that is displeasing to God.  Even when a complaint is justified, our pride and anger can be stirred to transgress in self-righteousness.  We can have our facts straight and our thoughts, feelings and attitudes disjointed from the faith, hope and love Jesus leads us to submit to. It is perfectly wise to pour out our complaints to God as the psalmist Asaph did in  Psalm 77:3 :  " I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah ."  In an ironic twist these overwhelming thoughts and feelings turned out it to be Asaph's problem, not God's.  While a complaint can be an expression of grief or dissatisfaction, it can also be a judgment or protest against something viewed as unacceptable.  Should our complaint be about what God has done or allowed, Who is only righteous, wise and g...

" He who earnestly seeks good finds favour, b ut trouble will come to him who seeks evil." Proverbs 11:27 On Sunday at church we looked at a passage that well illustrates the principle held forth here.  When cousin Mordecai communicated to queen Esther the evil devised against their people, she ultimately decided to approach the king without being summoned.  For any who dared do so there was only one law:  death.  There was a caveat, however, for the king could overrule the unchanging law of the Medes and Persians and hold forth the golden sceptre to spare the life of one who found favour in his sight. Esther, her maids, Mordecai and all the Jews he gathered in Shushan the citadel fasted three days before she sought an audience with king Ahasuerus.  I am certain she earnestly sought the God of Israel who alone is good in that time, for her desire was that she and her people should live.  Her life was dependent upon God as she approached the king. ...

" Hatred stirs up strife, b ut love covers all sins ." Proverbs 10:12 Hatred and love is expressed by how we respond when offended.  The Hebrew word translated "hatred" here is defined as enmity, scorn, to decrease in status.  A heart troubled by hatred is like a kettle on boil that must let off steam.  Troubled souls take pains to trouble others by slander, deceit, sow discord, hold grudges and stew in bitterness.  Because hatred cannot forgive and despises even the suggestion of reconciliation, the aim is to punish, injure and destroy the offender whose offence is perpetually present. On the flip side, love covers all sins.  Love covers sins, not by ignoring or hiding offences as if they did not occur, by extending grace and mercy to the offender without keeping record of wrongs.  Love is shown by rebuking a person privately for sin, not to humiliate, shame or punish, but with an aim to correct, instruct and ultimately with desire for restored relationsh...

Following Christ is infinitely more than ticking boxes.  Our flesh has an awful tendency to act in our own self-interest and take action for our desired outcomes.  Having secured entrance to heaven through the Gospel by faith in Jesus, having repented of our sins, we might imagine we have done the hard yards when the reality is God has done all.  Baptism in water is a one-time event, but fellowship with God and brothers and sisters in Christ must be maintained continuously by faith demonstrated by obedience.  Often our faith lies in a theoretical realm when it ought to be practiced presently:  to believe Jesus rose from the dead is different than believing He is alive, with us as our LORD and God. Many times we believers (and I speak from much experience in this error) is to write-off passages of exhortation for groups or people other than myself.  I have assumed unbelief was a problem unbelievers have, not realising unbelief is a more common fault against ...