Sax

Sax

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

A Call to Persevere

Hebrews 10:19-39
 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
 26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,
   “I will take revenge.
      I will pay them back.”
   He also said,
   “The Lord will judge his own people.”
 31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
 37 “For in just a little while,
      the Coming One will come and not delay.
 38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.
      But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
 39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.


Now is a time of struggle. The enemy knows he is running out of time and is desperately attacking the Body. Now more than ever, we must heed 1 Timothy 6:11-13

    11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Broken

Have you ever felt like people come around, spend time with you, suck you dry, spit you out, and move on? I feel as if 90% of all relationships seem to go this way, speaking from personal experience. You pour all you have out to them, loving unconditionally, and yet they're there one minute taking what you have to offer, and gone the next. It makes me feel as if I'm broken, like something is wrong with me that causes everyone to leave. I feel like when I was put together, a piece went missing or was forgotten. I can't help but wonder. It happens once, and you think, "oh, what's up with them?" But when it just keeps happening, you can't help but think, "is it me?" But at the same time, I know there is One who loves me no matter what. That made me just the way I am. I am perfect in His sight.

I'm stuck on part of a song that reminds me of what matters most, the Truth.

I set my affections
Completely on You
There's no more rejection
No more abuse

You melt my defenses Lord
And You call me Your friend
And I'm back in Your arms again

You alone are all I need
For You hold my destiny
You alone are all I need
Oh Lord

In You I am complete.

We must always remember that our Father truly loves us, even when people are trippin'.

-In Christ,
Nathan