The pressure and weight that
must be faced by every follower of Christ, and more on the focus of divine
judgment are considered, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Ethan
M” (Level 5 with 8,577 points, a member since June 13, 2006) posted the
following:
How can Christ say in Matt 11:30 that
his burden is light?
He paid the price for all our sins, I would not
consider this a light burden.
THE BATTLE AXE: The
Focus of Judgment (12/09/2012)—Because behavior and conduct also display spirit
content, the resources given to prepare believers for divine judgment go beyond
punishments, threats, and warnings. There are examples from godly lives of
earlier disciples, prophets and servants of GOD. There is guidance and
instruction for decision-making and evaluating opportunities. The divine
substance of actions, attitudes and behavior are examined; and rewards are
determined in a second judgment that will be provided only to those who have
received immortality and incorruption. All believers who accept Jesus Christ as
Lord are embraced as the children of GOD, and those in intimate relationship as
adopted sons and daughters to GOD; however, as with Jesus himself, they will be
examined for obedience, reverence and righteousness.
THE GOLDEN ARROW:
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his
lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have
kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do
unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had
not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak
for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done
among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now
have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15: 20-24, King
James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER:
Church Attendance? (11/12/2012); A Holy Kiss? (11/13/2012); Blessings, Curses
and Woes (10/03/2012); After We Die? (10/04/2012); Justice Comes by Love?
(10/01/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); The Work of Jesus
(03/13/2012); Signs of a Prophet (03/14/2012); The Only Way?
(02/14/2011)
Clarity for statements recorded in Scripture
often comes only after new birth, prayer, reflection, and structured
experience. Where Jesus says, “take my yoke upon you,” he is speaking of
sharing the divinely provided process for completing such sacred works as
Creation, judgment, and salvation. In the same way two or more animals may be
bound together and attached to a single plow when preparing a field for
planting, believers must be bound to Christ in order to accomplish their own
full experience of divinity. The furrows of a field about to be planted must be
cut straight and parallel to one another to maximize spacing for each plant, and
for irrigation. The animals pulling the plow must go in the same direction, and
at the same pace despite their individual nature as fractious, jittery, lazy,
ornery, or stubborn.
For those of his day, commitment to the ministry of
Jesus (who was, in fact, acknowledged as a rabbi) meant excommunication and
social ostracism by the Jews (i.e., the Temple community comprised of
politicians, priests, and workers), who dominated faith through custom and
tradition. There was great controversy surrounding Jesus as Messiah or a
prophet sent from GOD, because some 400 years had gone forward since Malachi,
the last acknowledged prophet, and the appearance of John the Baptist, known
among those of the Temple as an heir from the line of the high
priests.
The attachment to Christ for redemption and
salvation is not optional or a matter of personal preference; and it is written
without equivocation: You must be born again. What sometimes appears
understated is that, once born again, believers must “grow up” again, and
develop into mature spiritual beings. Without exception, all believers in
Christ experience “growing pains.” Included may be disciplinary actions of the
church; false accusations, gossip and slander; imprisonment; loss of goods,
livelihood and property; martyrdom; persecution; and rejection by disbelieving
family and friends.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied,
and spiritually apprehended. (For example, all born-again believers inherit a
duty to spread the gospel through their daily routines of life. All are not
called to be clergymen, officers in a congregation or pulpit preachers. Yet,
all are to have portion in the work of clarifying, demonstrating, and sharing
with others the continuing work of GOD in Christ.) Even so, I trust this
fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment