pondering the path of life

Our calling

They first gave themselves to the Lord;

Then to the building up of the body (the church);

Then to make known the Grace and Truth of God to the world…

Our goal

In holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world - our faith working through love.

The Truth creates friction with the flesh

But the spirit thrives on the Word of Truth

The Spirit of Truth has come and the flesh is at enmity with it

With the Spirit there is life

With the flesh there is death

And the flesh will persecute those of the Spirit

the gospel equation

God's Love = Grace + Truth

Grace + Truth = Our Redemption

Our Redemption = Faith + Hope + Love

Faith + Hope + Love = A Light to the World

A Light to the World = God's Love

Where is our battle, who is our enemy?

The darkness comes upon us, the wicked multiply

There is no fear of God among them

Torrents of ungodliness overtake the land

Deceit and treachery and death

Pride and arrogance and greed

The enemy's foothold grows in the heart of the weak

For where the darkness grows there is no strength

Lawlessness abounds

Evil pervades

Truth is rejected

Man's heart of stone is filled with wickedness

They delude themselves with their own wisdom

They call evil good and good evil for the darkness has overtaken them

How shall we embark upon this battle?

How can we fight against this enemy?

…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Eph 6:10-13)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.                 (2 Cor 10:3, 4)

trust...

If we say we have faith in Him, yet we do not trust our lives to Him, where will our hope and our joy be found…

I trust in the Lord, I will rejoice and be glad in His loving-kindness

As for me I trust in You, O Lord, and I say "You are my God"

Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. 

It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender.

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Standing firm in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ or following the rolling waves of popular opinion - on which ground do we stand?

quote for ponderment

Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. 

It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender.

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)