On the Road Again

In the book of Matthew Jesus is baptized and then God speaks and says "this is my son, with whom i love, with him I am well pleased." When I read this verse, it never really strikes me. I mean ok, God looks down and sees His son/Himself and says He is pleased. Well duh! He's God incarnate, untainted by the world, set out to free his sheep from entanglements of evil, so they can roam in the pastures of freedom. So it never really struck me as to why this verse was always quoted or why it was even in the bible! And the realization I came to is most likely not even what Matthew had in mind when he put this text in his writing, but last night the Lord opened my eyes and I saw this passage in a whole new light. The past few weeks it has been a battle for me to simply accept God's grace and rest in the shadow of his cross. I found myself being consumed with this notion that I must prove myself worthy of His love. And while Paul does call us to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, I had missed the point. It was killing me inside, any slip up, any sin, I'd beat myself up over it, wallow in guilt, repent, and repeat cycle. Where was the assurance of eternal security or the promise of life to the full? Because it was far removed for me as I battled a shadow of sin that I wasn't going to overcome. My depravity had gotten the upper hand, and I sank. I was wearing thin, and if you've ever been there like me, it gets to the point of numbness, and you know youre in trouble. Lifeless to everything, a smile feels insincere and rejoicing, weeping, conviction, joy have all but faded to memory. I was approaching that point, and then i remembered a video i watched about how God draw nears to us in silence. So i set out in my tahoe down a country road to gaze and the stars and wait for a whisper. And thats exactly what i got. It wasn't long until my mind wondered to the verse Galatians 2:20 which says "... I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." That's when God made the connection to Matthew 3:17 which i mentioned early. A light went on and i felt a weight lifted off my back. If what Pau says is true, then when God looks at me He says "I love you, I am well pleased" regardless of our baggage, because we are seen through the lenses of Christ's atoning sacrifice. We no longer have to earn out way, pay him back, live in fear of rejection.. He is well pleased with us. He calls us beloved. All we must do in walk in that light and with that knowledge. Let us not run the race to prove ourselves, but run so our Dad can take us by the hand and softly voice His approval for us, no matter our pace or place. His blood was spilled so the God of the universe can see only purity when He looks at us. Walk in this truth... "This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased"

Fellowship of the Unashamed

This is a writing that fires the tar out of me and maybe you'll get some motivation out of it today just as I have. This is not my writing, but it is worth sharing, and puts into words what I have been learning and desire to lay hold of.

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

By Dr. Bob Moorehead