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Gleanings From The Word

Category: sanctification

  • The Journey

    The Journey

    Our faith walk isn’t dessigned to be static

    The Christian faith is in many ways a journey to our new home in the kingdom of heaven. It’s where the citizenship of all believers is held, and our inheritance is.

    Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven repeatedly in the gospel accounts. In Luke 9:27, He says, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (see also the parallel accounts in Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1)

    He also speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven being near.

    From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 ESV

    Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15 ESV

    Knowing that we can ask when the Kingdom of Heaven arrives. It isn’t an easy question to answer.

    The kingdom has always existed because God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He created it all and rules over it.

    There is also a sense that it arrived with Jesus and His work. The disciples got a taste at the transfiguration. You could argue that it came at His death and resurrection when our sins were paid. You might also say that it came at Pentecost, when the Spirit ushered in a new era of power.

    You could make the case that the kingdom is not yet in its full form. At the culmination of all things, all believers will be with the Lord, and the kingdom will be uncontested.

    The kingdom is like many things in Christianity, now and not yet. We are justified (saved) when we accept Christ, yet our election was made before the creation of time. Throughout this life, we are being sanctified (made holy as he is holy). Ultimately, we will be glorified (made fully holy and the way God intended us to be).

    Our faith walk is a journey during which we will see and understand more of God’s character and experience greater glimpses of what it means to be in the kingdom.

    Our calling is from God, and our destination is secure. The vista before us is ever-changing. We are secure in the Lord, no matter what we face along the way.

    As we travel along the path, rejoice and enjoy the journey with all of its ups and downs, knowing what awaits will be better than anything along the way.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Living Water – the water that truly refreshes

    Living Water – the water that truly refreshes

    Fossilised plants and leaves - McAbee Fossil Beds, BC
    Fossilised leaves – Mcabee Fossil Beds BC

    It was summer, and I was up on the mountaintop, digging  fossilized fish and plants. Kathy opted to stay back on the valley floor with the dog, where it was relatively cool and shady.

    The dig was on private property and appropriately licensed. I toiled away for a couple of hours baking under the sun and realized I had left my water bottle in the car.

    Eventually, I made my way back down the winding path, carrying several ore bags full of samples. I was parched to the point of feeling weak. Kathy met me at the bottom with a cold bottle of water fresh from the cooler. 

    I don’t remember a bottle of water ever tasting that good before.

    In most of North America, we take fresh drinking water for granted. Very seldom, and even then for no more than a couple of days, have I not had plenty of water to drink on demand.

    The people of the Middle East are accustomed to the experience of being thirsty. They are aware from personal experience how personal a commodity is.

    They know how refreshing a cold drink of water can be on a hot day.

    Two of the more common biblical metaphors for the love of God are water and living water.

    You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:1-3 ESV

    Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”  John 4:13-15 ESV

    The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17 ESV

    Remember a time when you were the hottest and thirstiest you have ever been. Now, picture the refreshment of a cold glass of water.

    That refreshment is nothing compared to the refreshment from the well of salvation. The Lord’s living water refreshes like nothing else ever will.

    Allow your thirst for love, forgiveness, and acceptance to be eternally satisfied by His living water.

    Drink deeply.

    Be Blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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