Thought
of Provocation
It
has been a while since I have written on this blog. For a while I made some
quick videos. It was novel. I do enjoy making the videos, along with the
bloopers of my own mistakes. But all in all, I have been given a gift of words.
It truly is an amazing gift that the Father has given me, especially since Mr.
Roboto was my nickname in school. (After all, I could not talk at a normal pace
without stutter. Instead, I talked really slow and monotone.)
Words
give me the ability to create pictures, worlds, EVEN LIFE itself. No, I am not
blaspheming the Holy Word. God said that I am created in HIS image. He is a
creator who has bestowed me with the ability to create as well. But I have my limitations. What I create with
my words are but an inkling of what life is like sustained by our loving
Heavenly Father.
But what do I do with my words, this is what
changes for me. I have seen my words be a source of hurt. I have seen my words
as a source of passion. I have seen my words as a source of comfort. I have
seen my words as a source of change. I
am a wordsmith who enjoys his gift.
Right
now, I am in the middle of a couple of writing projects. One is a project to
introduce a real person to a group of people who want to know more about him. No,
they won’t be able to come and meet him. They are relying upon my ability to
use my words to reveal more than what people tend to see when they see him. I
am almost done. Its deadline is on the horizon.
My
other word project is a repeating one. It’s due every couple of weeks. I use my
words to encourage a flock of God, a church family. This is the preaching
schedule. I preach 26 weeks of the year, which gives me a lot of time to
reflect on the words that I will use, and what it is that I am trying to say to
the congregation.
On
Sunday nights, we have been travelling through the Prophets in the Old
Testament. After all, Jesus told the disciples on the road to Emmaus that the
Prophets tell of Jesus. Actually, reading the prophets, I find a lot of overlay
between the time of the prophets and what is happening in our time today.
First,
I am not saying that in any way that America, particularly the United States, is
the new Israel, or the New Chosen People. We are not. Also, I am comparing preachers to prophets in
that they are both responsible for the bringing of a message from God, through
His Word. There is some comparison between the two roles.
So
this is what we had covered: Jeremiah 14.14. (It’s an easy address to
remember.) Actually, back up a verse to 13. “Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets
say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I
will give you assured peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me, “The
prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken
to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing,
and the deceit of their heart.”
Imagine
the word, “preacher”, in that small passage. Too often I see, I hear preachers
telling people how basically good they are. But how good are we? Am I doing
what I need to be doing, am I preaching messages that equip and challenge my
brothers and sisters to dig into the Bible because we as a nation are not ok.
Our morality is going down rather quickly.
Do
I have the courage to tell you that you are wrong? No, I am not being
judgmental. I, too, struggle with what I should not. I know what is right, what
is good. I know what is wrong. Too often, I find myself doing the wrong. How
long will God put up with me? (This was also Paul’s struggle, as he shared in
Romans 7.)
Let
me bring this home for you. Are you struggling with doing what you know you
ought not do? Thankfully, Jesus, the Messiah, rescues you from your struggle,
from your dying flesh. (Romans 7.25) But let’s try something: Since there is no
condemnation for us who are in Jesus Christ, let us put off the yoke of slavery
to our physical wants. Let us draw upon the Spirit within us, the Holy Spirit,
to strengthen us to live according to the adoption that we have received.
This
post is rather short, and might even raise more questions. I encourage you to
ask me. Let me encourage you. Allow me to answer those questions, not as
someone who is perfect, but as your fellow saint. (Oh, you do know that is how God
sees us, if we are in Christ Jesus.) I am there with you, struggling with the
same sin nature. By His Spirit, we will get through this.
Thank
you for allowing me to share with you from my heart. The Father’s blessings be
yours.
