Isaiah - CHRISTIAN REP

Quiet Time

Mike Messerli — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:28:47 +0000

Quiet time

I think our culture needs a time out….a quiet time out. This morning, EARLY this morning, I’m reading, praying, thinking…and in my ears is noise all around.

The neighbors next door fighting,

the neighbors behind me hollering at their kids,

dogs barking in response,

airplanes flying overhead,

will you all please be quiet!

Silence is something our world does not like. We are a world of noise…noise 24/7. Noise to keep the silence away. There are few places where we can go to find a place without the noise of our world….because in the silence we have to deal with ourselves, we have to deal with God, we have to deal with the things we have done and so we turn up the noise.

It’s interesting that in the bible quietness and peace with God are spoken of together. Noise and sin are partners as well. It seems that quiet is the posture of peace, of a right relationship with God…it’s comfortable when peace with God is a reality. But when we haven’t resolved our relationship with God, when there is no peace with God we keep the volume turned up so we don’t have to deal with him.

Isaiah wrote, “The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.””

In Psalms God said to David, “Hush, be quiet and know that I am God.”

As I listen to the noise all around me, volumes increasing as the sun rises, I am thankful for the peace, the quiet of a relationship with God that gives me calm in the storm of noise swirling all around.

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

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Why Jeff Bethke Hates Religion…

Rose — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 02:06:35 +0000

In Jeff’s words, his inspiration for this viral video came from a poem he wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion.

“In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel “not good enough” for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God the Father.”

Watch this awesome video in light of God’s desire for His commands to come first before our own traditions as declared in Mark 7:6-7

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.‘

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

Visit Jeff Bethke at his website.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

Also check out the book that inspired the video, The Prodigal God.

The post Why Jeff Bethke Hates Religion… first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

Why Christmas

Mike Messerli — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:39:48 +0000

Why Christmas?

Why would God accomplish his redemption plan in this way?

Why come as a baby, as a human and live among us?

Why did God choose this way to redeem mankind?

Luke 3 describes the arrival of Jesus in this way, quoting Isaiah,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!
The valleys will be filled,
and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.’”

“The salvation sent from God.” What an interesting way of describing this baby. We usually focus on a baby, gifts, wise men, angels and shepherds, but behind it all was a plan devised before creation to save mankind. A plan devised before the problem arose. Even knowing what would happen God created with a plan already in place to fix the problem of sin that would arise. It’s more than my little head can absorb. A plan to fix a problem that didn’t exist yet? Only God could do such a thing. Christmas is the revelation of God’s great redemption plan from eternity past to save mankind.

Isaiah also wrote these words,

For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice
from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

To us….even as the prophet describes the coming of this baby he’s clear to tell us the purpose, the recipients…it’s US! All this was done for us. Christmas is about God’s great plan from eternity past to provide life to the man he created. I’m so glad that this celebration we call Christmas is all about God’s great redemptive plan.

This is the time of year when we see how much God loves us.

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

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