Thank you Lord for this breakthrough.
I think we often times try to add far too much to the Bible. That alone is blasphemous, for the word IS God. So at that point, we are creating our own God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5 ESV
I’ve noticed also, that at times, we complicate things. That we try to elegantly portray our biblical knowledge and discernment to those around us. But really, that drains the power of the gospel. If I have a diamond ring, I’m not going to wear gloves, and I’m not going to paint it my favorite color. That would drain it of its natural beauty.
In 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV, it says -“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
It’s the same thing with our faith, and the gospel. Christ is SO beautiful. What he has done, who he is, and his mercy, is the root of all love, perfection, and magnificence.
That’s something I think we all can forget. That the crucifixion was more than enough. We don’t need to eloquently persuade people of more than what the word of God has told us. I find it dangerously contradictory for us to try and add to God.
The true simple gospel is as follows.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:5-8 NIV
We could dig our entire life, and never reach a complete depth of knowledge. I’m unaware of anything that is more important than this simple miracle.
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.”
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 NIV
Endless books. Much study. Weariness.
Don’t tire yourself with trying to figure everything out. Just be transformed by the simple gospel.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Let’s bask in the mercy of God. Lets receive that first. Because only once we receive, can we give.
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:8 NIV
We have received eternal life! Once we receive that, we will begin to radiate freedom. People will begin to receive from us, as true followers of Christ. In our actions, and how we love people. It’s noticeable, that’s ministry.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.”
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 NIV
We are the aroma of Christ. As we begin to receive, we will begin to give. That’s what people will notice. An aroma, something incomprehensible, yet vividly present. The way we give ourselves up daily, because we have so much more.
People are gonna see you donating, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked. People will notice the way you listen to them, the way you deny yourself. The wisdom that you have will radiate. Most of all-
Your enemies will see you loving them.
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
Loving your enemy.. That takes an abundance, but it’s a good thing that we receive an abundance. That he gave himself up for us, the helpless and the lost. -that’s abundance.
Through all of this, be careful not to take pride in your giving, for we have done nothing. We received freely. That means there should be no pride.
““Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4 NIV
We give, in thanks. We can’t earn it, we don’t deserve it.
“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”
Ecclesiastes 7:20
“For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.””
Romans 9:15 NIV
This is the reality in which we rejoice. For me, it’s the thing that makes all sadness, and worldly joy bleak.
That I was helpless, yet I am helped.
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2:10 NIV
Now I have hope for the future.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
This is what I believe to be true, and biblical faith in Christ. In the future, we may mature in Christ, and grasp the intricacies of his character better so. As is written.
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”
1 Corinthians 2:6 NIV
It’s not a wisdom of America, or any other place. It’s a wisdom that never expires, and never dies.
Lastly and finally
“All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
Philippians 3:15-16 NIV
Live up to what you have attained. Yet don’t excuse your conscience Do not say that, “because I’m younger in the faith, I don’t need to follow that commandment”.
On this, it is written-
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
James 4:17 NIV
I encourage everyone, of all walks of faith to grasp this next thing.
“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,”
Hebrews 6:1 NIV
That we would create a strong foundation on the simple goodness of God.
“”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””
John 3:16-21 ESV
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
John 8:32 NIV
I hope, that you could receive this in humility, as I’ve written it in humility. For those of all walks, to not discount this. Some of us have matured, some are still learning, but it is all Gods work. We can take no pride, for it is not your actions that have brought you here.
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:1-4 ESV
Who are you to condemn one, of whom God has welcomed?
That is all, I love you all, thanks for reading. Life’s been routine lately, but God is so enjoyable, and God is good. I hope he has softened your hearts to this.
