When we are in our right minds, we put some clothes on.
Mark 5:15 Now they came to Yeshua and saw the madman who had had the legion. He was sitting there, dressed in clothes and in his right mind. The people were scared. source
And when we start talking about modesty and being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, people get scared.
Click HERE to read the story prompting my few words today.
Have y’all heard that (I guess for lack of better word in this moment) doctrine that says salvation is a three tense process?
I am saved from the penalty of sin at rebirth
I am being saved from the practice of sin today
I will yet be saved from the presence of sin in heaven
Matthew 6: 32 For the pagans eagerly pursue all these things; yet your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. source
Thirty two is the verse that started this!
I read this and said to me: pagans EAGERLY pursue food, drink, clothes (oh yes and houses and cars too); what do Christians EAGERLY pursue?
What do Christians EAGERLY pursue?
Is it not true we need food, drink, clothes (some of us need more fabric in those clothes – but I digress), shelter and transportation?
For sure we do! So how do we live these verses?
May I suggest we are assured in these verses if we EAGERLY pursue JESUS first while working for food, drink, clothing, shelter, transportation that HE will make sure we have all these things?!
And then I asked: What is GOD’s Kingdom? Click HERE for a very good answer.
If I do less than eagerly seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness am I not acting like an unbeliever, a pagan even?
Back to the beginning.
I’m saved from the penalty of sin. I’m being saved from the practice of sin. I shall yet be saved from the presence of sin.
And my conclusion is this: There is only one reason why I would not eagerly seek His Kingdom – unbelief. Am I a practice-er of unbelief?
Are you like me? Like very grateful?!
I have been saved from the penalty of unbelief.
I am in the process of being saved from the PRACTICE of unbelief.
I will yet be saved from the presence (and consequences) of unbelief.
I read it decades ago, I can see the page yet in my mind, I have long-lost the page but this I remember: Blaise Pascal was given the credit for having said (my paraphrase) Any portion of the Bible that I say I believe but I have yet been moved to obey it, I can rest assured I do not truly believe it.
Mark 9:24 (TLV) 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” source
Chazaq!
Mark 12:41 He sat down opposite the treasury and began watching how the people were putting money into the offering box. Many rich people were putting in a lot. source
He sat watching. Watching the people. Watching who came. Who went. Watching.
He saw her.
Mark 12:42 Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 43 Calling His disciples over, He said to them, “Amen, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those contributing to the box! 44 For they all put in from their surplus; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had, her whole living.” source
He saw her. And He saw what she gave. He saw the others too. He saw what they didn’t give. He knew. He knew the abundance. He knew the scarcity. He watched. He knew. He still does.
Aren’t you glad?
