There is hope. We can be fixed.
God, life, people, music, and a humble trainwreck of colourful ponderings
Wow, I don’t remember this being part pf the rules and regulation of Israel in the old testament.
Exodus 21:15, 17 (NKJV)
15 “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
Not written by me. Excerpted from J. Oswald Sanders’, The Incomparable Christ. From Chapter 31. Beautiful beautiful book. Everyone should read it.
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The rending of the veil signified the end of the old order and the ushering in of the new. J. Gregory Mantle sees in it a four-fold significance.
It was the end of symbolism. The old economy had fulfilled its purpose and yielded place to the new. Christ, the great High Priest, was the perfect fulfillment of the shadows and ritual of the law.
It envisaged the end of sin. The veil was rent at the very moment Jesus, who was “made… to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21), “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).
It was the end of sacerdotalism. No longer was there any need for a priesthood and sacrificial system. The ministration of the priesthood that had held a central place in Jewish national life had come to an end.
It betokened, the end of separation. The veil that had for a millenium and a half been a barrier to God’s presence now became a gateway. Every penitent soul is now invited to enter the Holiest of All by virtue of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19).
Man how time really flies.
I’ve got a few projects going on. Thank God for projects. Hope at least one of it makes me rich.
Very soon, I’ll be married.
We’ll grow old. And die.
I thank God that He was with me the whole way.
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Spoiler Alert: I am not talking about Marvel Inhumans in any way. (Spoiler Alert II: I may in the future though)
Acts 1:3 During the forty days after [Jesus] suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
Joey has challenged me to blog my devotion again. So here it is.
Acts 1 is quite interesting. It reminded me that it was Dr Luke and not Apostle Paul who wrote this book. And that it’s written to an individual named Theophilus, not written to the early church. A common Aaron misconception.
This particular verse got me thinking 1. This really is Jesus who came back from the dead. Before Jesus died (you can find His story in the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), you can’t stop Him from talking about the Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven. And now that He’s back from the dead, what do you find Him talking about? The Kingdom of God. Yup, it’s Jesus alright.
But from that thought came this pretty opposing question: don’t people who come back from the dead become quite different people? At least that’s what I’ve learned from years of tv and movies. You’ve got to change after experiencing the horror of death and the grace of life. Also your perception of life and limited time will definitely change certain characters and attitudes you have. And I have read that when people have died and come back to life, even for a few seconds, most of them do remember some sort of otherworldly experience. That’s gotta change you somehow. Yet, Jesus didn’t change. My conclusion is, either He didn’t die. Or 2. He’s was God. Being God means He’s had the right perspective from the start. It wasn’t new to Him, nor it didn’t change His plan, nor did it shake His faith.
This again sparked another thought that 3. The Kingdom of God must be something worth understanding if you can’t shut Jesus up about it. I don’t know about you, but the Kingdom of God is not something that is easy for me to understand. I’m still learning, and I hope to know more and more each day. For now, I do know it is about God’s original plan for us to be in God’s house and in His presence, worshiping and being in His path and His plans. And being Kingdom minded is to be like Jesus. Always doing things for the benefit of God, and always loving people from God’s perspective, and doing everything written in the bible to be an effective and powerful Christian. No pressure. I’m pretty sure that’s why Jesus kept talking about it. Because it’s hard to understand (since it’s against our natural mindset), and it’s hard to do (so He had to be the living human example).
This Kingdom mindset concept has been in my mind these few weeks. I have to say, really having a Kingdom mindset means changing everything about ourselves. We will technically be superhuman. Do comment and let me know what you think about this.
Acts 1 is so interesting even at the first 3 verses. I hope to share my thoughts more often.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 1:1
Romans 12 has always been a special chapter for me. Mostly because it houses a few of my all time favourite verses. Here’s what I think of the first verse.
Beseech
Beseech is like a pleading. Imploring. An urgent and deep request.
Mercies of God
‘By the mercies of God’. For me this is like saying ‘according to how much God has allowed you to be blessed to’ or ‘to endure’ or ‘to give’.
Living Sacrifice
Here’s a typical war movie scene. A small team of good guys are being chased by an army of baddies with big guns. One of the good guys get injured and says ‘don’t bring me along, I’ll only be a burden. Leave me here. I’ll slow them down’. After the emotional scene, the good guys leave and turn the corner just in time as the bad guys turn up. They have a shoot out with this hero. But the hero gets killed. And as the baddies rush past the hero’s dead body to catch up with the good guys, the hero unclenches his fist with a grenade in his hand. It explodes and kills off even more of the baddies.
This hero is the sacrifice. He sacrificed himself. But he had to die. A death sacrifice.
A living sacrifice actually sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, I think it makes sense. Because God deserves more than just a death sacrifice. A death sacrifice is easy. You just feel for the people you leave behind – for a short moment – then it’s all gone.
A living sacrifice demands more out of us. Our life involves a lot more than our death. In life there is growth. There is learning. There are responsibilities. There are people. There’s time. There are wants and desires. There’s love. There’s abilities and skills. There’s health. There’s emotion. There are worries and fears. There are beliefs and ideas. There’s personality. There’s wealth and material things. There’s hope. Well, that’s a lot to constantly let go of.
How do we then become a living sacrifice? For me, it’s to be constantly aware of what we do. And to constantly decide to obey God. Now that is what I call difficult.
Imagine your time, your relationships, your priorities, your energy, your skills, your personality, your actions, your thoughts, all spent on someone else. It’s almost like when you have a girlfriend or a baby. Your whole life will be devoted to this person that you love. Except, for God, it’s more complete. Our whole life is required. Everything? Everything. Now that’s tough.
Then, if devoted properly, if what we decide and do is what God desires, we will be holy. Holy just means right before God’s eyes. Clean. Sin is the opposite which means wrong before God’s eyes. When we are holy, it will be acceptable to God.
Reasonable Service
In Greek, the word ‘reasonable’ is ‘logikos’. As in Rational or Logical. Being a living sacrifice is the logical thing to do. After what Jesus has done, after knowing who God is, knowing what an amazing life and path He has set us on right now, and knowing that His love for us is the reason for everything, it will be irrational and illogical to not give your whole life and being as a sacrifice to God! It will be irrational and illogical not to love God!
If you’re asking ‘So who is God?’ and ‘What kind of path did He set us on now?’, you’re asking the right question. The bible is filled to the brim with God’s character and God’s promises and God’s plan for us. And also very importantly, who we are to God. So start reading the bible now! If you need help, drop me a message or just comment below.
So these are thoughts I have when I read this verse. That’s all for now.
Ciao~
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Imagine a baby. Not a cute one. A bright red one. With hungry eyes. And sharp teeth. Three horns on it’s head. It’s not crying, or screaming, or flailing it’s arms. Just waiting. Staring. Waiting for food. Waiting to grow. Waiting to devour you when you make yourself vulnerable.
That’s what I imagine when I read James 1:14-15. My sins will be the death of me.
When I entertain my desire with my mind, I conceive a life, or death in this case. When I choose to act, it becomes a sin; the baby has come into existence. And the more I feed this baby, the more it grows and drains me. One day, this baby will be strong enough to overpower me and kill me.
I have sinned a lot. Today, yesterday, and everyday before that. I need to stop. God help me. Cleanse me with your holy Fire. Purify. Teach me to be strict with myself. Teach me obedience. Grant me the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation. Teach me to stop sin even at it’s conception. Fill me God. Fill me.
But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.
Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.
The death sentence, capital punishment
Give o blood-shed, convict the innocent
Eradicate the witness
Lynch the first, slaughter the last
Exterminate the absolute
Stain the just in the blood bath
Waste the pure, butcher the divine
Annihilate the sunrise
And he was numbered with the transgressors
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered LOVE
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered Love
Eliminate the infinite
Snuff the light and finish the truth
Kill the immaculate
Condemn beautiful virtue
Assassination of individual redemption
Obliteration of this undeniable one
And he was numbered with the transgressors
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered LOVE
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered
The day that they murdered Love
Remember me when you step into your glory
Don’t forget me when you step into your glory
Remember me when you step into your glory
Don’t forget me when you steṗ into your glory
YOUR GLORY!
There is hope. We can be fixed. 