Concluding thoughts for now on Christ's perfect character.
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
An Amen is in order. Couldn't say it any better myself.
I am glad if I am encouraging anyone here. I've certainly learned a lot searching the scriptures online. I'll let you know when I have all the answers. :)
You wrote and it is very true that "In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize."
In the parable of the Sower Jesus is giving us some reasons for which people will never end the race. Generally speaking the reason is when our heart loves something else (whatever this is) more than God. People always follow what their heart loves more. And where our heart is our treasure is also there. And if this is not God then it would be something else. Eventually we will turn left or right or even backwards. So God asks us to love Him more even than our life. This will guarantee that we will never leave Him and the race which is infront of us. God is making a huge effort to make us trust in and love Him. This is something we are learning along the way. And one can not love God if they never get to know Him. And this is not done only by reading His Word and appreciating what He has done for us but also when we feel His presence which is love, joy, peace...We will fall down sometimes along the way but we will stand up and keep going.
As you have also mentioned we must seek His face (I would say) every day. This is how we get the power to keep going. There is no other way. We can never run the race with our own strength and ability. We need God renewing us every single day.
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
I am glad if I am encouraging anyone here. I've certainly learned a lot searching the scriptures online. I'll let you know when I have all the answers. :)
Rich P
You wrote and it is very true that "In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize."
In the parable of the Sower Jesus is giving us some reasons for which people will never end the race. Generally speaking the reason is when our heart loves something else (whatever this is) more than God. People always follow what their heart loves more. And where our heart is our treasure is also there. And if this is not God then it would be something else. Eventually we will turn left or right or even backwards. So God asks us to love Him more even than our life. This will guarantee that we will never leave Him and the race which is infront of us. God is making a huge effort to make us trust in and love Him. This is something we are learning along the way. And one can not love God if they never get to know Him. And this is not done only by reading His Word and appreciating what He has done for us but also when we feel His presence which is love, joy, peace...We will fall down sometimes along the way but we will stand up and keep going.
As you have also mentioned we must seek His face (I would say) every day. This is how we get the power to keep going. There is no other way. We can never run the race with our own strength and ability. We need God renewing us every single day.
GBU
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