XPost: alt.religion.christian.adventist, can.general, can.politics
XPost: alt.dear.whitehouse
From: ninthcommandment@aolistoast.com
On 19 Feb 2005 07:57:02 -0800, "Jim" wrote:
>Sh'ma Yisrael wrote:
>> How much do you have?
>
>
>Always gotta appreciate a mind that can stay on track.
>
>There are places, you know, that claim to offer God's Presence to the
>general public. They have signs out front that say things like, "Come
>and Experience the Presence of God This Sunday!"
>
>But I have always found that the Lord is wherever you recognize your
>need of Him and are willing to meet Him. He seems always to be there
>before I get there, and to remain there even after I have gone. This
>has been true for me out in the desert, or by the ocean, in the deepest
>woods, up in the mountains, down in the valleys, and out on the rolling
>green prairies. Just as true in the inner city as out in rural areas.
>Just as true at midnight as in the welcome light of early morning.
>
>And I'm not saying that it isn't good to be gathered with others when
>worshiping the Lord. I nearly always appreciate being among hundreds,
>or even thousands, when singing the praises of the Lord Jesus. But the
>Presence of God is never limited to a building, a time of the day, or a
>special day of the week.
>
>So I sometimes wonder exactly what is meant by those who advertise
>God's Presence. One group near me recently advertised that to attend
>their meetings was to experience a relationship with God. And I really
>do believe that they meant well. I'm sure they are simply saying that
>it would be good to go to church this Sunday.
>
>But I wonder if maybe we don't go too far, at times, in trying to get
>people over to our place of worship? No mortal man or group of people
>can claim to function as a spiritual "filling station" for the Spirit
>and Presence of God in other people's lives. Yet I think that too many
>are doing exactly that.
>
>What any person has with God (and of God) is a matter decided between
>that individual and the Lord alone. I certainly cannot give you more
>of a relationship with God than you already have or want. And you
>cannot sell more of God's blessing to the next fellow. Nor can any
>mortal rightly claim to offer either of us more of God than we already
>have and want.
>
>God is with us all, to the extent that we will have Him. He is not
>diminished by our lack of faith, our refusal to obey and trust in
>Jesus. But we close down our hearts to the light and life and laughter
>of God when we resist His good Spirit, when we reject His assurances to
>help, and when we refuse to listen to Him or learn from Him.
>
>Like Isaiah preached, long ago, "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the
>waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine
>and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money
>for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not
>satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight
>yourselves in rich food." (Isaiah 55:1,2)
>
>We all need Jesus. And Jesus is here for all of us, having already
>died on the cross for our sins -- for all sin. But each human soul
>remains as far away from God as they like, or draws as near to the Lord
>as they wish to be.
>
>The light is already in the world, through the gospel, by the Holy
>Spirit, and through the witness of the church (such as that may be).
>The truth is right here among us in the message that God has given.
>And we will either open our hearts to Him, inviting Him in, or we will
>try to go the whole way alone, on our own, refusing all the help, the
>wisdom, and the power God offers.
>
>May we all be wise enough to simply open our eyes to the glorious light
>of God's Presence and blessing and truth. May we all learn from the
>Father and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life and god's
>richest blessings. Amen and amen.
>
>Jim
Selah and have a good weekend.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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