Love For His People: #352

Showing posts with label #352. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Stones - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Stones

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

'These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.” (Zechariah 8:16-7, NASU)

Have you ever been hit by a stone? Hurts doesn’t it. As a little kid, we’d throw smooth, flat stones across the still pond, hoping to skip them two or three times. If we ever made over five skips, that was a bit deal. But if you accidentally threw one amiss, and it hit someone, then the scream came. Yes, it hurts.

As grownups, we tend not to throw literal stones anymore, unless the scarecrow is trying to eat the vegetables out of the backyard garden. But we do still throw stones, only these ones can hurt more than a real one when it hits another. These are the verbal or written “stones” that can be very harmful, even deadly when viciously tossed at another. Bullying has received more attention in these days, given the predominance of social media. Even fake news has gotten into the picture, especially in our political climate. Some very vicious stones are being thrown wide and far.

Now I know that it has been the attitude of church leaders over the past decades not to get involved in local, state and national politics, primarily out of fear. Fear of whom? Those in our government politics. And yet we are told to be involved, as Jesus commanded us to be “lights in the world”. So yes, we must get involved.

Letting our voices be heard is necessary, going outside our four church walls, if we are to be as salt or light in anything we move about in, within the society we live in. Christians must speak up. We must let our truthful words be spoken and heard before we are silenced for good.

Coupled with prayer, which is of vital importance, we are to be involved, for the sake of all in authority, and for those they rule over.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NASU)

With prayer as the first action in lifting up those serving in politics, the next step is to put action to those words of supplications.

The many battles going on in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., involves all of us, whether we want to admit it or not. The actions of the elected, and even those appointed must be noted and paid attention to by Christians. We cannot sit idly by and let the ungodly, unrighteous, or unlawful ones take over. We have been given the responsibility to know and be about the Father’s business, in seeing His kingdom come about in all the realms. We have the truth. Let us speak it boldly and confidently.

As stones are being thrown every which way in the chambers and halls of our government institutions, let us stand against the lies being slung at the righteous seeking to represent the good of our nation and the people. With the Holy Spirit working in and through us, let us speak up and make our influence known while we yet can.

We are called to be living stones, ones that build up and not tear down. May our actions bring life and protection to those who are having hurtful stones slung at their character and honor. May we speak up with the wisdom and knowledge we have been given through our Lord’s Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #352 - in the year of our Lord 09.18.18 – “Stones”, Tuesday, 11:30 am

Friday, June 8, 2018

Gone, With Little Remains - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Gone, With Little Remains

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:26-27, NASU)

What remains when the Spirit has left? Rocks, a bit of history, or forgotten memories? Maybe a trace of what was can be found, but generally the living no longer celebrate the what was anymore. At least that is how it seemed when walking among the former monasteries and abbeys of centuries gone by, as we visited those ruins in Ireland. Even the massive cathedrals yet in operation today seemed hollow and just glorified shells of religion.

St. Patrick and a few of his contemporaries brought the Gospel to the Emerald Island, but for the most part, only a statue and some printed prayer cards now for sale offer any resemblance of the truth and life that had then replaced the paganistic beliefs during his time. The shamrock was used to teach of the Trinity back then. But for many, it now is just a nice green plant with three leaves.

So what happens when generation after generation forgoes the biblical way of life? You get nothing left but ancient stones and relics from long ago. The lamp has gone out. The Light of the World is no longer sought after nor desired to take away the darkness. What was beautiful at the time has been replaced with a glossed over religion that leaves each person not much better off than the one drinking life away at the local pub.

It is said that God has no grandchildren. Each generation must find the Savior and walk in His ways. You just can’t expect to receive what your parents had and get into the Kingdom by inheritance. Each person must seek and find Him for themselves. Though the previous ones who blazed the trail can instruct and encourage those who come next, it is up to each and every person, in each generation, to know the Lord personally and determine with the commitment to experience His purposes.

Although I was amazed at the extensive wealth and effort it had taken to construct these magnificent buildings that we walked through, I could only think of the lifeless rituals that now take place within them, of those still in use. For those trusting in anything less than the Lord Himself, I didn’t see where they offered much other than a photo to be taken. And with the ever-increasing sparse attendance at the weekly religious ceremonies, while congregations continue to die off, only the tour group tickets seemed to keep the facilities maintained. The populations surrounding the grounds had left their life at these doors years ago, if even then they had once crossed their thresholds.

What hope is there when people cast away that which can bring them the only hope? There is none.

Man will continue to build monuments, grand edifices, and crosses held high into the steepled sky, but unless they establish meaningful foundations in the heart, and that only through the grace of the Messiah, will there be an eternal life that will live long past the daily destructive forces that beat away all of that made of temporal material.

Our hope must be grounded on the Solid Rock, the Person of the Lord Jesus, and not on some religious form within or without. As the author of Hebrews wrote, “And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:27, Complete Jewish Bible) Only that trusted in, or hoped on, of the Lord will remain for good forever.

Make sure your hope is grounded on the sure footing for today and those yet to come. Keep it placed in Jesus Himself, and not in that which man has built, which will be gone with no remains.