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Archive for the ‘Explanations’ Category

Itchy

Posted in Christ, Explanations, Peace, tagged on January 11, 2012| 1 Comment »

Jesus and Nicodemus

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night …” – John 3:1-2

Many focus on the Bible’s most famous passage, John 3:16, where Jesus tells a man he must be born again, but few ask why that man was there in the first place.

What would make a highly educated, deeply religious, upper class man risk his reputation to visit a supposed uneducated street preacher?

An itch.

Something in Nicodemus needed relief. Itches are like that, they have nothing to do with social class, race, creed, or gender. They can be ignored a while but must be satisfied to achieve any rest.

God’s call is like that, too. It has nothing to do with social class, race, creed, or gender. It can be ignored a while but it, too, must be satisfied for any lasting peace.

Jesus had a public ministry to all — but saved his best for those who had a holy itch.

Sound Bite: God heals itchy people.
Prayer:“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee..” — St. Augustine (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430)

— fritz

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Following a Follower

Posted in Character, Committment, Explanations, Paul, Recognizing Christ, tagged , on December 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” — Apostle Paul (1st Corinthians 11:1)

Christ is the one we are to follow but some don’t, yet, have that connection. Some can’t “see” him and telling them to do so is ineffective.

But they do see us and some follow if not by their actions then certainly by watching our lives unfold — whether we realize it or not.

When Jesus said in his famous “Sermon on the Mount” that we are the light of the world and then added the analogy of a city on a hill (Mtt. 5:14) he meant that more people see a light than those in the light know.

I visited an uncle on his deathbed. We weren’t ever close and had never talked so I thought he knew little about me but when I walked in he said he knew I knew God and he asked me to tell him how to face eternity. He gave his life to Christ that night and sang for joy.

Embrace the calling as Paul did and follow Christ closely — little ones, and not so little, are watching.

— fritz.

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Two (2) Metaphors for Life’s Focus

Posted in Christ, Expectations, Explanations, Followers, Fulfillment, God's Will, Hope, tagged , on December 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field. — Psalm 103:15-18

Ingrained in us is the desire to build/accomplish something permanent — isn’t going to happen! Life is not designed that way.

Only God and his purposes endure.

John the baptizer, in the Bible, uses an additional metaphor:

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly …

He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:29-30

The Best Man at a wedding knows the wedding is not about him and he’s happy with that.

As youth fades don’t be sad at the decrease, recognize your purpose and put the focus on the one whom life is, really, all about — our time comes later (Rev 19:9). Next time something you do, even with the best intentions, fails to produce results you want, offer those efforts, desires, and results as a sacrifice to Christ.

— fritz

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