Inspiration

The Obedience of Faith

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Paul uses this phrase only twice in scripture; once in Romans 1:5 and once in Romans 16:26.

Reason leads one to believe that he explains the meaning of this phrase on the context of the chapter between these two verses.

This is exactly what he does.

The Two Phrases

By whom we have received grace and apostleship,

for obedience to the faith among all nations,

for his name:

~ Romans 1:5

————-

Now to him that is of power to stablish you

according to my gospel,

and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery,

which was kept secret since the world began, 

but now is made manifest,

and by the scriptures of the prophets,

according to the commandment of the everlasting God,

made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

~ Romans 16:25-26

In the Greek (eis hupakoen pisteos) “for obedience of (or ‘to the’) faith” literally means, ‘to the obedience of faith.’

Instead of explaining the context of this holy command (for that would take a small book). I am going to give my heartfelt understanding underlying the motive and the necessity to lay hold of this command and to take it faithfully to the end.

First, let’s discuss a little about Paul’s literary style.

In the first example, Paul writes, ‘By whom we have received grace and apostleship.’

Paul often times uses the word ‘we’ when he is fervently sharing in his blessings, persecutions, or curse.

When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, he was given the gift of grace while simultaneously receiving the gift and calling of apostleship. For him they are inseparable.

He was writing to the church in Rome who certainly were not called to be apostles but were given the gift of grace.

Just like God who so loved the world that he not only gave His only begotten son, He also shares with us all the blessings bestowed upon His creation, i.e., rainbows, the Bible, Holy Spirit, etc. God’s grace is so abundant that it overflows everywhere;  pouring out a river of opportunity to any soul who will heed redemption’s call.

Paul’s apostleship and grace are examples of this. He shared with the church throughout the ages the love of God that was unfolded in him to the furtherance and completion of the gospel world-wide the end as written by John in Revelation.

Just like Romans 7 when Paul cried out, ‘O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?’

Here ‘body’ (soma) refers to the sinful nature of self that is sold to, under the sway, and power of sin.

When Paul wrote Romans, he was no longer under sin’s power since he was wholly saved and freed from sin by the power of God. But this was not the case before the precious blood of Jesus cleansed him from sin and guilt.

knowing this,

that our old man is crucified with him,

that the body of sin might be destroyed,

that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

~ Romans 6:6-7

In Romans 7, he was sharing his experience of living under the law as a Pharisee, unregenerate, and bound to the law of sin and death. When he wrote this, he was freed from the law of sin and death and was resting in the Grace of God. He was writing to those who know the law and it implications as well as those who have not crucified the flesh through entire sanctification and still struggle when ‘the old man’ rears its head in their heart.

He shared the whole process of realizing God’s holy work when he was suffering under the bondage and power of sin to the road to Damascus and how he would eventually reveal the fact that the ‘old man’ can be completely put to death and crucified in Christ. We must strive to walk in complete obedience of faith lighted by Jesus and pioneered by the apostles.

Then and only then can we be overcomers; truly dead to sin and alive in Christ.

This is how God works: Everywhere the gospel is preached . . . it is preached to those in the bondage of sin. Rarely, are those who preach preaching from a pure heart  free indeed from the reins of sin and bound and yoke of sin.

Throughout the ages this has been Christianity’s dilemma but Paul and a few others have shown us a more excellent way.

He shared in our sin,

so we can share in His suffering.

and rest in the hope,

that one day we’ll be counted worthy,

and join in holy union,

with Him for all eternity.

~ D

This my friend is the big picture of the overflowing, bountiful Love of God through the obedience of faith.

Okay. So, we see what God is sacrificing and sharing with us; He calls us to share with Him and give every bit of our self in obedience to His service.

A God that loves us so much to create a universe, provide a perfect salvation plan in case we mess up His perfect creation: And then, we not only mess up ourselves, we mess up every other creature and plant on the planet, and the very universe in which it exists. All because of our sinful disobedience.

Is it any wonder He commands us to stop (sinning): to cease from all willful transgressions of His law? To live a righteous life, for all unrighteousness is sin: And, to have a simple childlike faith, for anything not done in faith is sin.

There you have in a nutshell. The meaning and importance of ‘our obedience of faith’ is to submit uncompromisingly to the Lordship of Christ. If this is the case in your life; Glory to God! Keep fighting the good fight. Weary not in well doing for great is your reward in heaven.

If this is not the case in your life, then please read my post on ‘Stand in the Ancient Path.’ In it is a story of a Christian, who believing, being baptized, and following after the apostles, who was told by Peter that he would perish in Hell if he did not repent of his sin and get his mind, life, heart and nature right with God.

I apologize if the words in this post seem strong, course, or harsh. They were pulled from my heart in this fashion for a reason I know not of.

They are far from the beauty and sweetness of many who write of the things of God.

On that note, this is what has been singing in my soul all the day long today. May the words ring true in your heart.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

—-

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

—-

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

—-

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

—-

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Through preaching and study of the word; the mystery of the ages has been made known to you and me.

God has commanded us to obey the faith He has given us. He is more than able to establish and keep us in this faith. May you learn of Him more dearly; remembering and cherishing His love, wholly unto the end. For it is His love only that we are called to have and obey. 

Compare your life with the life of the believer found in the beatitudes and see how you match up to the obedience that God expects from all who claim His precious name. God would not tell us how to live without providing a way for us to do it. I pray that God provides the grace to enable you to do just as He commands.

I am reminded of a title from one of Chick’s tracts, ‘This was Your Life.’

Jesus said, “you are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect. “

Distractions 

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Mostly all of us get distracted by  something in our lives; worldly interests, sports, a hobbie, career aspirations, or even blogging.

Our lifestyle choices can inhibit or facilitate God’s ability to influence and guide our lives.

When our choices inhibit God, He is not pleased. God is a jealous God wanting our affections to be holy and pure, like Him.

I had sincerely consecrated my life to our Lord recently and my life choices were in His way. He found me out and searched my inward parts. If you love him with all your capacity and allow Him completely in, He will have a way, a perfect and holy way of finding you out too.

He wants to reveal the intrusions of our will over His and always uses the light of His chastisement to lead you home . . . If you let Him.

Hebrews 12: 5b – 13 . . . despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:    For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

God wants holy, reverent, and deeply obedient children. If your desire is to serve Him: then disobedience, distractions, the deep sin within needs to be rooted out and put away. This is only one fruit of His chastisement: the beginning of our righteousness in Him:

1 John 1:2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Children are young and undeveloped. God forbid we develop our Christianity living in and practicing sin. This is what I have done over the course of my 28 years professing Christianity and I have finally by the grace of God, let Him root out these old fleshly desires . . . But not without great chastisement.

Romans 6:6, 7, 12, 22: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God . . . sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace . . . For he that is dead is freed from sin . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Paul explained to us in Romans 7 what it was like for him as a Jew under the law before the chastisement of God worked in his heart on the road to Damascus.

If there is sin still welling around in your choices, thoughts, and predispositions, God wants to fix it now. Yield to his chastiment and ask, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” He will lift you up and send you into the city, and show you what must do.

God has given us glorious victory, immeasurable grace, and unfailing love in our knowing Him through faith. The most precious gift is to know Him who sent Jesus through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Heed His voice, do not waver. All Christians are of a royal priesthood, ‘Give no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:’  do not sully the Lord’s name with unfaithful disobedience to sin.

We are called to live and die for others in the rich, Glorious love of Christ:  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; . . . For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?. . . for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 1 Cor. 6:6-7, 14b, 16-17, 7:1.

Do not let anything get in the way of God’s loving and divine will for your soul, your nature, or the lives of those around you.

God allowed me and my family to go through a time of suffering, trial, and discipline for nearly every moment of the last 8 months.  Now is a time of reflection of how I placed my will and desires over against His holy decrees for my family.

He also showed me how sin, like a pestilence, inhabits an unsanctified landscape, encroaching every orifice, every crack: firmly establishing itself with every foot hold Given place to the Devil.

Now our family is being transformed, sanctified, and washed in His word.

Sin, disobedience, distractions all squander this precious gift of life from God. He has holy ordinances for our life. Let Him reveal them to you.

Ephesians 5:1-14 shows us that we are called to reflect the mind of Christ: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Are you clean? Have you been washed in the blood? Are you a sweet smelling savor sacrificed to God?

Live in obedience to the whole council of God. Live only for Christ and Christ shall give thee light.

Love Him with all your might, obey Him in everything, and He will give you what you need to serve Him. . . “That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Oh, the riches of His glory and the peace of His love. May it bring divine correction and healing to your soul.

Let Him remove from your life  all distractions, entanglements, and weights  that so easily beset you. The freedom it brings is heavenly.

I humble obedience,

Donald

Notes from John Fletcher on Christian Perfection

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A Servant Should be Like his Master

Now if your Master was tempted

and assaulted to the last;

if to the last he watched and prayed,

using all the means of grace himself,

and enforcing the use of them upon others;

if to the last he fought against the world,

the flesh, and the devil,

and did not “put off the harness” (stop toiling)

till he had put off the body;

think not yourselves above him;

but “go and do likewise.”

If he did not regain paradise,

without going through the most complete

renunciation of all the good things of this world,

and without meekly submitting

to the severe stroke of his last enemy, death,

be content to be “perfect as he was:”

nor fancy that your flesh and blood

can inherit the celestial kingdom of God,

when the flesh and blood which Emmanuel himself

assumed from a pure virgin,

could not inherit it without passing under

the cherub’s flaming sword:

 I mean, without going through the gates of death.

Perfection is not yet Complete in Wisdom

Perfect love does not imply perfect knowledge;

but perfect humility,

and perfect readiness to receive instruction.

Remember, therefore,

that if ever ye show  that ye are above being instructed,

even by a fisherman

who teaches according to the Divine anointing,

ye will show that ye are fallen

from a perfection of humility

into a perfection of pride.

Perfection is not Angelic; it is Perfected in Weakness

Uninterrupted transports of praise,

and ceaseless raptures of joy,

do not belong to Christian, but to angelical perfection.

Our feeble frame can bear but a few drops

of that glorious cup.

In general, that new wine is too strong for our old bottles;

that power is too excellent for our earthen, cracked vessels;

but weak as they are, they can bear a fulness of meekness,

of resignation, of humility,

and of that love which is willing to “obey unto death.”

If God indulge you with ecstacies, and extraordinary revelations,

be thankful for them: but

be “not exalted above measure by them;”

take care lest enthusiastic delusions mix themselves with them;

and remember that your Christian perfection

does not so much consist

in “building a tabernacle” upon Mount Tabor,

to rest and enjoy rare sights there.

as in resolutely taking up the cross,

and following Christ to the palace of a proud Caiaphas,

to the judgment hall of an unjust Pilate,

and to the top of an ignominious Calvary.

Perfection is a Call to Suffering

Ye never read in your Bibles,

“Let that glory be upon you which was also upon St. Stephen,

when he looked up steadfastly into heaven,

and said, Behold! I see the heavens opened,

and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

But ye have frequently read there,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

who made himself of no reputation,

took upon him the form of a servant,

and being found in fashion as a man,

humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”

 See him on that ignominious gibbet!

He hangs; abandoned by his friends,

surrounded by his foes, condemned by the rich,

insulted by the poor! He hangs;

a worm and no man, a very scorn of men,

and the outcast of the people!

 All that see him laugh him to scorn!

They shoot out their lips and shake their heads, saying,

He trusted in God, that he would deliver him;

let him deliver him, if he will have him!”

There is none to help him:

one of his apostles denies, another sells him;

and the rest run away.

“Many oxen are come about him:

fat bulls of Bashan close him on every side;

they gape upon him with their mouths

as it were a raging lion; he is poured out like water;

his heart in the midst of his body is like melting wax;

his strength is dried up like a potsherd;

his tongue cleaveth to his gums;

he is going into the dust of death;

many dogs are come about him;

and the counsel of the wicked layeth siege against him;

his hands and feet are pierced; you may tell all his bones;

they stand staring and looking upon him;

they part his garments among them,

and cast lots for the only remains of his property,

his plain, seamless vesture.

Both suns, the visible and the invisible, seem eclisped.

No cheering beam of created light gilds his gloomy prospect.

No smile of his heavenly Father supports his agonizing soul!

No cordial, unless it be vinegar and gall,

revives his sinking spirits!

He has nothing left except his God.

Perfection is Matured by Loving Others

But his God is enough for him.

In his God he has all things.

And though his soul is seized with sorrow, even unto death,

yet it hangs more firmly upon his God by a naked faith,

than his lacerated body does on the cross by the clenched nails.

The perfection of his love shines in all its Christian glory.

He not only forgives his insulting foes

and bloody persecutors, but,

in the highest point of his passion,

he forgets his own wants,

and thirsts after their eternal happiness.

Together with his blood, he pours out his soul for them;

and, excusing them all, he says,

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

O ye adult sons of God,

in this glass behold all with open face

the glory of your Redeemer’s forgiving, praying love;

and, as ye “behold it, be changed

into the same image from glory to glory,

by the loving Spirit of the Lord.” 

Perfection: Humble, Pure, and Honest

“Be therefore clothed with humility,

let it not only fill, but cover you all over.

Let modesty and self diffidence (distrust, doubt)

appear in all your words and actions.

Let all you speak and do show that you are little,

and base, and mean,

and vile in your own eyes.

As one instance of this,

be always ready to own any fault you have been in.

If you have at any time thought,

spoke, or acted wrong,

be not backward to acknowledge it.

Never dream that this will hurt the cause of God:

no, it will farther it.

Be therefore open and frank

when you are taxed with any thing:

let it appear just as it is;

and you will thereby not hinder,

but adorn the Gospel.”

~ John Wesley

Moments: Seasons Pass Quickly

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Temptations last only a season. They come to us, after a while, they leave.

How we were influenced by them can have consequences in our daily walk and eternal destiny.

We are to clothe ourselves in the armor of God and stand firm in the power of His might.

Like ‘the fowls of the air that devoured’ the seed, Satan wants to pluck heaven out of your soul, Mark 4:3-8.

He wants temptation to lead to sin so he can ‘wither away your faith’ and cause your heart to fail. 

Pleasures of this world spring up all around us in an attempt to choke out the work, word, and spirit of God.

He wants you dead, first spiritually, the physically.

The battle we are in is not child’s play. There is a war is raging for the souls of men, yours and mine.

God has given His children all we need to withstand and win this lifelong battle. See Ephesians 6:10-20. For a longer read on the subject, get the book, The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall.

God has provided us a way to overcome every temptation we encounter, 1 Corinthians 10:13.

So we are without excuse when we sin as Christians. When we sin we become the servant of sin. Satan is the father of sin and by sinning we become an enemy of righteousness, Romans 6:12-14.

If we persist in sin we will not abide with God in eternity.

Read Jesus’ own words highlighted and emboldened below. The matter could not be clearer. You must be free of sin to be Jesus disciple.

Then said Jesus to those Jews

which believed on him,

If ye continue in my word,

then are ye my disciples indeed; 

and ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free. 

They answered him,

We be Abraham’s seed,

and were never in bondage to any man:

how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 

Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin. 

And the servant abideth not

in the house for ever:

but the Son abideth ever. 

If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.

There is hope in repentance when we sin.

But that repentance must be genuine and a long standing. When we truly turn from sin and repent, we will no longer to be dragged down in the putrid bowels of its influence again.

This is where the grace and longsuffering from God comes in. He is here to help us overcome sin, all of it. If we let Him . . .

Like a piano with a dead key, we become amiss when we fail to resist temptation.

First and foremost as Christians, we are to stand firm in our faith and free ourselves from the chains of sin. ‘Enduring hardness, as a good soldier,’ we are not to ‘entangleth ourselves with the affairs of this life; that we may please him who hath chosen us’ (2 Timothy 2:2-4).

We cannot serve God the way He wants us to when we are serving another master.

It may be a frank and willful sin like lusting after something (or someone) in your heart or something as subtle as a casual lie.

Regardless, sin squelches that still small voice of God in our heart.

Like a piano out of tune, we turn into a bad melody, when we ignore God’s harmonious word and submit to sin.

We don’t hear Him when we should . . .

We don’t pray when we should . . .
or get up . . .
or listen . . .
or talk . . .
or walk . . .

This short season of life goes by so fast.

One day our retiring will come.

Will those minutes, hours, days, or years choosing sin stain your eternal soul?

Or will serving Our Lord with a broken and contrite spirit shine on that day?

He wants to grow and be servants of righteousness, not servants of sin:

Know ye not,

that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,

his servants ye are to whom ye obey;

whether of sin unto death,

or of obedience unto righteousness?

~ Romans 6:16

I remember too many days and opportunities lost.

Just yesterday, I learned that I needed to talk.

Just talk.

To anyone, especially strangers.

Talking breaks the ice and provides opportunities for God’s love to be shine through.

Are you in a place that you can hear Him?

More importantly, are you in a place where He can hear you?

Get up.

Fight the good fight.

Every day.

Make sure your armor is on.

Because tomorrow is coming and the enemy is waiting . . . .

Habakkuk 2:14

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For the earth shall be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea.

This is one of the most beautiful prophesies I have read.

It is couched amongst the judgments against King Nebuchadnezzar (and others who would commit evil in the similitude of his ways).

According to Clarke’s commentary this prophesy has a 3-fold meaning. I believe there is a more than that due to the dual nature of the glory of the Lord.

First: it is applied to the kingdom of Babylon because of the evils King Nebuchadnezzar wrought.

It is also applied directly to King Nebuchadnezzar as God humiliated him in the eyes of the whole world by turning him like unto a wild beast for 7 years.

The same hour

was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar:

and he was driven from men,

and did eat grass as oxen,

and his body was wet with the dew of heaven,

till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers,

and his nails like birds’ claws.

Daniel 4:33

King Nebuchadnezzar and his empire came to the knowledge of The Lord through God’s judgment. I find it fascinating the many meanings of the glory of the Lord.

Here is what King Nebuchadnezzar said about the knowledge of God’s glory:

Now I Nebuchadnezzar

praise and extol and honour

the King of heaven,

all whose works are truth,

and his ways judgment:

and those that walk in pride

he is able to abase,

Daniel 4.37.

Through the process of judging Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, the Lord restored his people to their land. This enabled the second and third parts of the prophesy.

The second part: When Jesus came, He brought the full knowledge of God’s glorious plan to all of His people.

His apostles, disciples, and many sinners were filled with with the knowledge of The Lord and it covered Israel like water does the sea.

 They shall not hurt

nor destroy in all my holy mountain:

for the earth

shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea

Isaiah 11:9.

The verse above is a direct reference to the Messiah as is the whole of Isaiah chapter 11.

God the Son came and fulfilled the prophesy with His holy word. His Apostles continued the process leading to the third part of the prophesy.

Those that did not heed the message of the Lord were destroyed in 70 A.D. by the resulting judgment of disobedience in sin.

as the waters cover the sea

Often times the sea is considered to be people in scripture. So, in the context above with the Jesus, the sea were those dwelling in the land of Israel.

In the third part of the prophesy, the sea becomes the whole Earth wherein all peoples dwell.

When the ends of the Earth are reached with the glory of the gospel, this will usher in the fullness of the Gentiles. Then God’s second reclaiming of Israel will occur.

At that time, the whole world really will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord.

It must be understood that within the glory of the Lord is found reward and punishment.

This is why God chastises us. His glory will expose everyone’s soul.

He wants His disciple’s souls to be richly rewarded, so he works on us as we work out our salvation.

Salvation is as simple as a prayer of repentance of sin and faith in the works of Christ.

After initial salvation, there is a walk that must be walked. Hypocrisy has no part in Jesus’ true disciples. Consider Judas a chosen Apostle with all the power thereof, or Ananias and Sapphira judged dead in their tracks for lying.

That is why we battle fervently against sin because the workers of iniquity (those who practice sin) will be judged in the coming of His glory.

God wants us to be sanctified and holy, with a heart cleansed of sin. He wants to transform our soul into His temple, His dwelling place.

He will not dwell were darkness lives: in a heart choosing to serve sin (and by extension, Satan). We are not to believe the lie, “Ye shall not surely die.” The soul that sinneth reaps destruction.

Grace abounded greatly to sinners by the work of Christ to bring salvation not to condone sin. Once sinners are saved, grace is to abound in them by the love of God shedding abroad in our hearts teaching us how to live holy lives and do works of righteousness free from the workings of sin.

Don’t believe the deception from Satan that sinning is okay. Those that believe this are working iniquity for the father of lies.

The fowls of the air lodging in the shadows of branches are workers of Satan as well as the leaven corrupting the kingdom of God with sin. All who practice such ways will be cast into outer darkness in the full revelation of God’s glory.

In that day, let none of us be revealed to be fowls in the mustard tree or leaven weaving corruption in the meals of grain.

Let us rather, ‘being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.’ ~ Romans 6:22

 For the earth shall be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea

~ Habakkuk 2:14.

Our Bodies, Our Hope

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Our bodies are muddy vestiges of decay.

Of this I am now most sincerely and continuously aware.

My spirit and body attest to this:

being justified and saved from sin,

sanctified and cleansed from sin,

bearing the consequences of this sin

in my body

until the end.

Praise be to God, for there is a better hope

For the law made nothing perfect,

but the bringing in of a better hope did;

by the which we draw nigh unto God.

(Hebrews 7:19)

We must strive wholly for this better hope.

Unwavering as we are made more perfect

Resting in God’s Holiness and peace.

Rejoicing evermore.

Praying without ceasing.

And in every thing, giving thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

(I Thess. 5:16-18).

Let those in Christ rejoice

for our salvation is nearer than before.

For we are merely sojourners in this land.