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Thoughts from a Simple Heart

'Direct' could be my Christian name. I am given no more to eloquence than I am to singing. (At a church I once worked in, the music leader would not permit me to stand on stage during the praise - simply put, my absence of any musical ability was disruptive to the real singers so my absence was ordered.)

I wear the mantle of sophistication as a skunk wears perfume. 

'Uncomplicated' could be my middle name. I prefer the chill of any icy morn to the heat of a noonday sun. I even love baked beans as much as a Bombe Alaska (well almost).

So here goes the reflections from a direct, inarticulate and unsophisticated man (who still fails at music) - last time I looked at the Bible (very, very recently mind you):

  • murder of any kind was still sin, even abortion,
  • sexual immorality of any kind was still sin, even homosexuality,
  • truth is still taught and determined by Jesus and His Spirit of Truth, not the spirit of man or any consensus thereof,
  • righteousness is still God's plumb-line to life, not theology or mans' reason - and finally,
  • the Word of God which will NEVER FAIL me always has the final word.

So the days are now becoming far harder for the Christian with a voice who believes the above five points. Wickedness increases upon the earth. I can't escape it (but you can't either).

The rising temptation is to hold my counsel for the times are evil and to shrink from the truths I have known for decades.

The truth does not change, it cannot decay for if it did it was not first the truth.

To conclude then, to the mind of this simpleton there remains one step forward, one way to head, one faith to hold, one truth to speak and one Lord Jesus to seek, BUT these now require an undue courage above my humanity, or anything I may already be endowed with. So Jesus adds:

Make up your mind beforehand not to worry how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words of wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. (Luke 21:14-15)

My mind is now made up, so I repeat each morning:

I am not one of those saints who will shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (Hebrews 10:39)

So my final word I directly ask:

will you too join with me each day in the verses above and the prayer below so neither of us shrivel up, and the Lord's voice of righteousness is again heard in an unlistening world?

O Lord strengthen me with your Holy Spirit that I may overcome. Amen

Today's Soul Snippet:

"Waiting upon the Lord is the engine room to worship the Lord." ~ Michael Cartwright

Don't forget last week's SoulSnack - Burning the Christians

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