Intently
"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going..." Acts 1:8-10
Blessing comes when we look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom. Isn't it almost ironic that we should receive freedom from something that has set up "rules", a law? I don't think so. Perhaps it would be true with all other laws, but God's law is perfect, as is He. He didn't give it to put restrictions on us, but to help us find Him. Therefore it was an act of love, because He is the beginning and the end. He is the reason for existence, and the hope for eternity. When we look intently to the law, we are looking intently to God and in God is found freedom.
Before He left, Jesus proclaimed that His children would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them, and they would be His witnesses...of the perfect law that gives freedom. As He was taken up, the people looked intently into the sky where Jesus was found. That is what we are to do as well. Not necessarily looking up into the sky in a literal sense, but looking intently to our freedom, to Jesus. Looking intently at Jesus, obeying Him and doing what His Word says results in blessing, though that blessing may come in a different form than we expect. In that, in Him we will find freedom in being intent and intentional in seeking out Wisdom. And in Him we have the power to be who He has called us to be, to be obedient and to be His witnesses as we travel this earth for the short time we are here.
God has called me. I must go forth, allowing for Him to reveal the road as is fitting that I should see, and granting me the strength to press onward towards the goal.
May His Name be honored!
posted by Bethany @ 12:11 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I heard someone said one time, that everyone who ever made it to heaven, would have made a deliberate, intent decision to get there, having placed their trust in Jesus while on earth. Makes sense to me if heaven is to be populated only by Christians. Christianity is big on human responsibility and power of choice. God hasn't created a zombie, a willie nilly, but a scentient being with radical free will.
What has always befuddled me however, in my Christian walk, is what happens to someone who looks intently and follows the teachings of Buddha, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, etc? Will these people ever be heirs of heaven? Is it a correct thing or disingenuous thing, to say that it's only on account of intently looking on Jesus, that one be saved? And if the name of Jesus was all that was necessary to salvation, why did Jesus insist to his disciples in some of the places they went, that they should not tell anyone that he was Jesus of Nazareth? The picture of heaven painted in the book of Revelations also, is a utopia comprising of different races of people, with their different cultures and way of life and religion, worshiping God and the lamb. Something is not right here if only Christianity and Christians are harbingers to heaven! Any light you can shed on these, will be greatly appreciated. It will help make my faith a little less blind.
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