Comments on: Jesus’ Kingdom or yours?

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:29:13 +0000

:-D

/jan

By: Murray

Murray — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:28:47 +0000

Great verse, Julie; and thanks, Michele, for taking the time to write that passage from “Valley of Vision.” It really helps get a better handle on understanding the nature of sin.
May we, as blood-bought citizens, find the joy that comes in serving the purposes of our great King - working together, in community, as one body.

By: michele

michele — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:03:46 +0000

I was finally able to get on-line Christmas morning, what a perfect time to read this! I do want to move into His kingdom but I know I’m not always successful. I am so thankful for a Saviour who was willing to go to the cross for my sins, who forgives much. I have this hope to continue daily to be more like Him.
Something else I read this morning I thought I would share from Valley of Vision.
In a world of created changeable things,
Christ and his Word alone remain unshaken.
O to forsake all creatures,
to rest as a stone on him the foundation,
to abide in him, be borne up by him!
For all my mercies come through Christ,
who has designed, purchased, promised, effected them.
How sweet it is to be near him, the Lamb,
filled with holy affections!
When I sin against thee I cross thy will, love, life,
and have no comforter, no creature to go to.
My sin is not so much this or that particular evil,
but my continual separation, disunion, distance from thee,
and having a loose spirit towards thee.
But thou hast given me a present, Jesus thy Son,
as mediatior between thyself and my soul.
a middle-man who in a pit
holds both him below and him above,
for only he can span the chasm breached by sin,
and satisfy divine justice.
May I always lay hold upon this mediator,
as a realized object of faith,
and alone worthy by his love to bridge the gulf.
Let me know that he is dear to me by his Word;
I am one with him by the Word on his part,
and by faith on mine;
If I oppose the Word I oppose my Lord when he is most near;
If I receive the Word I receive my Lord wherein he is nigh.
O thou who hast the hearts of all men in thine hand,
form my heart according to the Word,
according to the image of thy Son,
So shall Christ the Word, and his Word, by my strength and comfort.

By: Julie Cortens

Julie Cortens — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:31:31 +0000

That’s a BIG question and I suppose the truth is while I WANT to abdicate mine and move into His, I do bring Him in to mine. My work here - every bit of it, needs to be His work that I might show Jesus and others how much I treasure Him.

After reading this exhortation, I am reminded of a verse from Psa 90:17 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

Gill’s commentary (an I don’t always agree with Gill) “though God works all works of grace for us, and in us, yet there is a work of duty and obedience to him for us to do; nor should we be slothful and inactive, but be the rather animated to it by what he has done for us: our hands should be continually employed in service for his honour and glory; and, whatever we find to do, do it with all the might of grace we have; and in which we need divine direction and strength, and also establishment, that we may be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord: and this petition is repeated, to show the sense he had of the necessity of it, and of the vehemence and strength of desire after it.”

May we walk worthy of our calling - every second of the day, no matter what the risk, no matter what the ramifications may be - He is worthy. I am in His Kingdom, not mine.