Category: discipleship

  • Cliffside

    Being disciplined and reshaped to be like Christ

    sandy cliffs at Lily Point Marine Park and Reserve, Point Roberts, Washington State
    Lily PointMarine Park and Reserve

    This beautiful sandy cliff is at Lily Point Marine Park and Reserve in Point Roberts, Washington. It’s a pretty spot, and it’s well worth visiting that area.

    The picture doesn’t show the ongoing degradation of the cliffside. The sand constantly slips towards the sea. At times, it’s tiny little streams, almost a grain at a time. Periodically, it’s in much larger chunks. We weren’t there during a storm, but I suspect storms remove even more cliff face.

    As Christians, we are in a process. When we become believers, we are justified. That means our sins are atoned for, and it is the entry point to the face. You cannot be a Christian without having been justified.

    Then comes the process of being made holy, more like Jesus, and set apart for Him. This is the process of Sanctification, which will last as long as we are on this earth.

    Lastly, we enter into the state of glory with God and become all He created us to be. That’s glorification.

    That process of sanctification can seem like a cliff face. Sometimes, God seems to chip away at our sin-filled, willful nature in tiny pieces. Other times, it feels like huge chunks are being removed.

    Our Lord loves us, and because of that, he disciplines us.

    Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:3-11

    Being disciplined is seldom fun, but I would rather be disciplined by the Father than separated from Him for all eternity.

    I am nowhere near what Jesus wants me to be, yet I am far further along the sanctification road than I once was. I’m grateful. What about you?

    Praise the Lord that He loves us enough to correct and teach us.

    Kevin

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  • Constant Companions

    Don’t leave home without them

    Pocket survival kit , Gleanings From the Word

    Charlie was an old-timer who had spent many years in the bush. I say was because 50 years ago, back in the days when I knew him, he seemed to be ancient. I cannot imagine him still living.

    Charlie was a crusty old curmudgeon of a character. He could out walk, outtalk, out fight, out cuss and outwork just about everyone he ever met. He could build a fire out of almost nothing, and his skills as a fisherman and hunter were the stuff of legend.

    Someone told me that there had once been a Mrs. Charlie, but he never mentioned her to the best of my recollection. It was the sort of thing you did not ask him about. If you wanted tall tales or practical advice about survival in the bush, he would gladly talk about those topics. Anything more personal was off-limits.

    Charlie had been a hunter, fisherman, trapper, logger, and prospector at various times. His multiple occupations usually kept him miles from civilization, often on his own. Over the years, there were many occasions where Charlie had to depend on his wits and survival skills to survive.

    Charlie had walked away from more than one bush plane crash. He had walked more than 200 miles through the virgin forest after a lightning bolt had left him without a usable canoe.

    There were several things Charlie never left home without. Charlie carried a roll of brass snare wire, a sharp pocketknife and a hunting knife in a sheath on his belt. In his pockets were a couple of bandannas, numerous boxes of waterproof matches, a small candle and a compass. He kept some fishing line, flies, and simple hooks in an old breath mint can. Lastly, he carried a battered, old Winchester, lever action .22 with at least a box of ammunition.

    There was always plenty of gear besides those things, but Charlie told me that he felt naked in the bush without those constant companions. He believed in being prepared, and it had been the difference between life and death for him more than once.

    I feel that Charlie and King David would have gotten along well. David knew what it was like to be out there on his own for long periods. They would have differed in one area. I do not remember Charlie ever once mentioning the Lord unless it was as an expletive.

    David travelled with constant companions as well. He had a sling, a staff and undoubtedly a knife of some form. 

    King David also had an even more powerful companion. David seldom travelled very far without keeping the Lord close at hand. There were times when David drifted, but he always found the Lord close at hand when he looked for Him.

    There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

    nor are there any works like yours.

    All the nations you have made shall come

    and worship before you, O Lord,

    and shall glorify your name.

    For you are great and do wondrous things;

    you alone are God.

    Teach me your way, O Lord,

    that I may walk in your truth;

    unite my heart to fear your name.

    I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

    and I will glorify your name forever.

    For great is your love toward me;

    you have delivered me from the depths,

    from the realm of the dead. Psalm 86:8-13

    The best companion you can have on any journey is the Lord. Until next time, make sure He goes with you.

    Kevin.

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