Joined To

Greetings Reader.

Much time has passed since I last wrote to you. My heart has been troubled. My head has been distracted. My hands have hindered my ability to write. I have a physical condition, yet undiagnosed by physicians, that prevents me from typing much.

I trust your heart and head have been well, seeking God and finding rest, peace and comfort in Him. We must continually and daily seek and live our peace and comforts in God. There is no earthly source for these. The source is God Himself. Consider the meaning of the Greek word commonly translated in English in the New Testament as “peace.” It means “joined to,” or “unity with.” We must frequently examine ourselves and ask ourselves are we living as joined to, or in unity with, God in Christ or with the world?

Jesus tells us in the world we will have troubles. He also tells us that He alone has overcome the world. If you are a Christian, your identity and life are found in him. Thus, you can truly live as one who experiences now the life which overcomes the world. We are united to and in Christ. It is the life of Christ in you and me that we need live by, and it is He Himself living through us, dear Christian. It is not you and me living according to our own resources (united or joined to the world), what is natural to us, what is according to our flesh.

If, dear reader, you are not one who is in Christ, then you are limited completely to your own natural resources. You are united or joined to the world; what is natural. You share not Christ’s life. You are depending on something that has not the provisions for rest and peace to provide these for you.

Do you, whether believer or not, desire Christ and life in Him this day? Tell Him so.

Then again, there are those famous last words, “I’m not ready yet.”

The below is from Bogatzky’s Golden Treasury. The author of the hymn is not identified. May our Lord encourage you by it.

God’s mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you. (Jude 2)

Carl


How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? Psalm 13. 1. Divine Answer: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands: thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49. 15, 16. I will not leave you comfortless. John 14. 18.

Were all our sins and afflictions so soon to be prayed away with a few words, whence these sad and repeated complaints of David? Why should God advise us to wait for him, and persevere in hope? And how could faith and patience be exercised? In our closets we may be lifted up with high speculations; seem to be strong, and able to leap over all the walls; but in great distress we see how dejected and distrusting our hearts often are (Psalm 30. 7, 8); but the Lord preserves us.

Can a woman's tender care Cease toward the child she bare
Yes, she may forgetful be; Yet will I remember thee.
Mine is an unchanging love, Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath, Free and faithful, strong as death.
Thou shalt see my glory soon, When the work of grace is done;
Partner of my throne shalt be: Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?
Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee, and adore; Oh for grace to love thee more.

Iniquity Or Love

Reader, may I ask, how has God’s grace been manifest in your life this day? This past week? This moment? Is the presence of God’s grace merely an idea you ascent to, part of a doctrine you believe in, or is the presence of God’s grace a reality you live, you experience? [Do these questions seem strange and foreign to you?]

How about love? How has God’s love been manifest in your life this day? This past week? This moment? Is the presence of God’s love merely an idea you ascent to, part of a doctrine you believe in, or is the presence of God’s love a reality you live, you experience? [Do these questions seem strange and foreign to you?]

Finally, iniquity. Here I must alter the questions, for I cannot say “How has God’s iniquity…” Iniquity, in some Bibles rendered “wickedness” or “lawlessness,” originates in the human heart. So, I must ask, how has iniquity been manifest in your life this day, this week, and this moment? Have you experienced the iniquity of others? Do you see your own? [Do these questions seem less strange and foreign to you?]

The migration from God’s grace and His love to human iniquity emphasizes the following: Why is it that we, perhaps the majority of us, live as if God’s grace and love are distant at best, mere ideas or beliefs that we may ascent to, and which don’t seem to be foremost in our daily experiences, but iniquity (that of others or our own) we immediately say “I see that!” and readily confirm comprises a significant portion of our experience? Are not God’s grace and love as real, or more real, than human iniquity? Are they not of more worth for seeing and experiencing? Dear friend, does your life bear witness that you know God’s grace and His love to be of greater worth and value, thus deserving more affection and pursuit, than iniquity? How is it with you regarding this?

If you are a Christian, is your Christianity that of belief and doctrine alone, “I am a Christian because I believe…” or are you a Christian rooted in the experiences of those items you profess, experiencing God Himself? Do you have fellowship with God or fellowship with ideas? Have you, as suggested in the last writing, have you consulted your desires and affections? What did they say? Consult them again, perhaps.

With the above in mind, I want to draw upon three passages. First, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall be increased, the love of many shall be cold.” Now, many a reader will say, “This chapter fits squarely in the great tribulation, end of times, or the end of the age! What it says does not apply now; not to me! It gives me no cause for concern!” Perhaps, if you are such a one, you are correct. Entertain, though, that it could be other-wise than you think. Could it be, dear reader, that if you seek escape from God’s word in such a way, are you not one committed to Christianity as doctrine instead of Christianity as life? Are you guarding the heart with the head, and thus not experiencing Christianity? Is the ring of “cold love” already in your ears and the root cause “iniquity” to be hidden at all cost! No friend. This text is for you and for me every time we read it, and seeing it we should allow God to have His way with us regarding it.

May I humbly ask you, friend, is your love not cold at this present time? Would you readily testify to God and all humanity that your life exhibits that which is worthy of being known as Christian love? What says your heart? Does not this passage challenge us all today? Are you cold? Are you loveless? Do you know too much iniquity and not enough, experientially, God’s grace and love? Be concerned reader, iniquity and love enjoy not the others company. Know love and pursue it. Know your heart and walk away from iniquity.

Second, I Corinthians 14:1, “Follow after love…” If you have never, or have not for sometime, memorized, meditated upon, and yielded to Scripture, this is such a verse for you! Much could be said, and I trust God will reveal it to you. Friend, you will follow something. Let it be love. For by “knowing” and “seeing” and “pursuing” love, you will become loving. God will take you through events and changes and you will become what you behold. If you see yourself only, and not God, you will become the manifestation of what you are in your fallen-ness: Iniquity. If you follow after love you will know and see and pursue God and His image you will bear, thus being god-like, or His child, and thus loving. You must first know His love, before you can see it in your day and follow its lead experientially. Knowing and seeing God’s love will draw you into following, thus living, His love. You will not be cold. You could not be cold.

Third, I Corinthians 16:14, “Let all your things be done in love.” Ah, this my friend, this is Christianity known and lived! Here is something, if ever you achieve it, here is something the world can never know (although it can see it), the world can never want, and the world can never rid you of! Iniquity, oh yes, iniquity and coldness, the world will pursue and support these till the end of time, but “doing all things in love!” (or “lovingly”) this dear friend will seal your fate in the world but cause your life to beam with the radiance of God! Do you now do some things in love? Do I?

Yet, I must ask, are you as I am, and do you at this moment while recognizing the worth of a godly and loving life, experientially, acknowledging Scriptures voice and call to you, do you sense an impossibility to your ever living such a way? Friend, there is no formula for your and my perfecting our Christian lives. Christianity is a relationship with God “as individuals” primarily. Do you know God through and because of the work and merits of His Son? If so, you have a new heart, a new set of affections and desires. These are God-oriented (from God, because of God, and for God). These affections stand in contrast to your original heart affections, which are set on iniquity (from self, because of self, and for self). If you prefer the later, your love will be cold. If you prefer the former, you will know love (experientially), see and follow love, and live lovingly. Know God. Know your heart. Live what you believe.

Much has been written. May God permit us to live much of it for His glory and other’s benefit.

Iniquity or love?

Follow after love.

Carl

What To Ask Of Your Desires And Affections

Greetings Reader.


I trust you have known the love of God and the joy of the Lord, since I last wrote. The world changes. His love and His joy change not.

Friend, have you considered asking someone else if they see evidence in your life that you are a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ? Should you ask someone else such a question?

Perhaps this question should not be addressed to anyone other than God, or one's self.

In preparation of asking God, please, ask your self.

Do your desires and your affections bear you witness that you are a disciple or a follower of Jesus Christ?

Where these two go, so goes your life.

Reader, in your own time, and in your own way, ask your desires and affections to reveal the truth of this matter to you. Do not hurry through this inquiry and do not require an immediate answer, but carry it with you always. Live with it.


When you see your self-answer, ask God for His.

Do not hurry God for a reply. Seek Him. Receive His answer over time. Live with it.


May your own answer and God's give you direction.

His grace and peace to you.

Carl

Discern The Road You Travel

Greetings Reader.


Bogatzky's writing below address the practicalness of your daily life, as in what you see, what you hear, where your affections go, how your time gets spent, which emotions stir most in you, and the true source of your joy (if you even truly have joy).


Friend, there is no denying that our days are hard for us as a nation and our individual lives full of difficulties, heaviness and challenge. But, as the load weighs upon you and your family, your body and your spirit (your heart and soul), do not become blind to the narrowness of the way to which, if you are in Christ, you have been called. Realize when slippage is occurring and repent in humility and honesty that you have entertained the tyranny of the world as more pressing and worthy of your life than life with God through His beloved Son.


There is no true life on the broad road (it takes life), yet it feels the most life giving. True life, that which ultimately is yours and possesses the power to sustain you, requires you to constantly see differences and yield your self to the narrowness of God's ways (essentially, always being most passionate and desirous of God and all that pertains to the Christian life) over submitting to voices and demands that do not have their origin in God and His purposes. This dynamic is the movement, the life, of faith in the careful Christian heart and mind.


The world has the full capability of crushing and extinguishing (or rendering useless) any measure of faith in you, and you are the one required to prevent that from happening. Take courage in Christ, dear friend. God's Spirit, His Word, and His people are yours to draw strength from. No trial that you experience is yours alone to carry. We are all human. We are all fallen. We all live in a fallen world. The nature of our experiences are more common than we allow ourselves to believe. Christ too experienced the fullness of human trial in the world, yet He both overcame the world and invites us to live in His victory, rest and peace. We generally refuse to yield and accept His invitation and instead remain on the broad road. You alone know your heart. You alone, before God Himself, need to honestly confess to Him your weakness, concerns, fears and need of His mercy and goodness in your life. Do this frequently. The Father delights in being your source of life and your Satisfaction. He gave His Son for this reason.


After reading Bogatzky, ask yourself in all honesty, which road you're really on: One that takes life or One that gives life?

God's Best,


Carl




"Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7. 13, 14.


This sounds to harsh in the ears of the old man, who would not have the law made use of in these gospel times, either to the converted or unconverted; and yet to the old man, the law, and not the gospel, properly belongs. St. Paul, the great preacher of the gospel, made use of the law to rouse unconverted Felix from his security, Acts 24. 25.; and warn the unconverted Romans from falling into it again. Romans 8. 13. Which way dost thou walk? Examine thyself. Is it the narrow way? - Art thou quite sure of it? - Venture not to go on any further at random. It is a matter of great consequence; if thou wilt be safe, try better for it; thou mayest be easily deceived. Alas! thou art surely in the broad road to destruction, if thou still lovest and art conformed to the world. Art thou but indifferent with regard to the things of God, relishing more the vanities, pleasure, companies, treasures, and honours of this world? - thou art in the good narrow way that leads unto life. Oh, consider this well, and stop short before it is too late, and thou drop into the bottomless pit of perdition!"


"Strait is the way, the door is strait, That leads to joys on high; 'Tis but a few that find the gate, While crowds mistake and die."

A Simple Word

"Always esteem it best to arrive at your journey's end by that way which divine Wisdom has chosen for you, however different it may be from your own choice, or from the devices of your own heart."

(John Arndt, TC, 40.6)


Reader, may the following be a description of your life with God, be read as thoughtful reflections, and be your prayer to Him.


Thou hidden source of calm repose,
Thou all-sufficient love divine;
My help and refuge from my foes,
Secure I am if Thou art mine;
And lo! From sin, and grief, and shame,
I hide me, Jesus, in Thy name.

Thy mighty name salvation is,
And keeps my happy soul above;
Comfort it brings, and power, and peace,
And joy, and everlasting love;
To me, with Thy dear name, are given
Pardon, and holiness, and Heaven.

Jesus, my All-in-all Thou art –
My rest in toil, my ease in pain,
The medicine of my broken heart,
In war my peace, in loss my gain;
My smile beneath the tyrant’s frown;
In shame, my glory and my crown;

In want, my plentiful supply;
In weakness, my almighty power;
In bonds, my perfect liberty;
My light in Satan’s darkest hour;
My help and stay whene’er I call;
My life in death, my heaven, my all.

(Charles Wesley)

Seeing Mercy

Greetings Friend.

Much time has passed since I last wrote you. I know you have challenges, but I trust your heart is well. Be encouraged. Life is more than the things which pass.

The World continues its activities in seeking out followers. The Flesh and its ways are equally as busy. The Enemy of souls never rests. Yet, even with these ever-present foes, I am convinced that each day provides us opportunity to understand the presence of these influences in our lives and the lives of others, and that "seeing" their presence and influences we may act accordingly.

This discernment lends itself to knowing our hearts and must continue. Through this understanding and discernment, we realize our separateness to God and can further position ourselves in spirit from all that is unclean. We can thereby see sufficiently to pray for others to be awakened to God and His redemptive works through His Son and for His mercy to be applied to their lives. The World, the Flesh, and the Enemy of souls do not desire such movement by you friend, nor can they ever desire it. They do not foster mercy. You, if you be of Christ, you alone in this world can live this desire and foster mercy. It is your heart. Do you know yourself this way? Is this at all descriptive of your Christian day?

What of the admonition to "freely give what we've been freely given"? What meaning does it have when considering the gift of illumination, which we as believers have received, as we move through the moments comprising our days and our relationships? Do the things God has shown you matter in your relations? After having been awakened to your separateness to God in Christ and from all that is worldly, how does your life transact? That which is of the World, the Flesh and the Enemy of souls strives to keep you in darkness (as if un-illumined) and transact your relations as if from darkness. May God grant you insight regarding this. Treasure the gift of illumination to the things of God and live from it.

Reader, it is, unfortunately, much more natural for us, even if we have some familiarity with our separateness in Christ, to see and respond from what is fleshly and in relation to what is of the world rather than what is of God and eternal. Consider Jesus' statement denoting a difference between mercy and sacrifice in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7, for example. I pondered this recently and had the following thoughts. They are presented without concern as to their being right or wrong. They are simply a record of where my mind went.

- Jesus Himself seems to be the primary interpretative focal point to understanding the use of this statement in the context each is given.

- Jesus was more moved to render mercy than requiring others to sacrifice.

- He knew He was God's sacrifice, thereby rendering Him free to extend mercy to those needing it and eliminating the view (demand) requiring others live lives of "supposed" merit or sacrifice, including what I call the imposed burden of merit.

- As followers of Christ, we are freed from any life driven by "supposed" merit and the imposed burden of merit, thus we are free, as was Christ, to live from mercy and to extend mercy to those in need.

- Doing such removes from others the requirement of meeting any demands we in the flesh would impose on them.

- This results in their experiencing what is of God in us, thus their experiencing God in the world, all a contrast to their experiencing only the World, the Flesh, and the Enemy of souls.

- The "imposed burden of merit" is what I call the transference and perpetuation of a merit-based, flesh driven, life dynamic that exists and gets passed along if we ourselves don't live from an illumined sense of God's mercy.

- If we impose the burden of merit on others in our relations, we prevent others from knowing and possibly living by mercy, thus reinforcing an ungodly basis for relationships and keeping what is of God from people's lives.

- Mercy is freely given. Sacrifice is demanded.

Reader, if you have been freed from all merit-based sacrifice requirement by God’s mercy, meaning you know mercy, do you require others to live sacrificial lives to you, or do you free them of that because you operate from extended mercy toward them?

Experientially knowing mercy begets mercy. Not knowing mercy, or having only an intellectual comprehension of mercy, leaves sacrifice operative, thereby it begets the demand of sacrifice. One is God's way. Jesus knew both in ways we never will, and he elected mercy. He sacrificed Himself to give others mercy. Contextually, Jesus offered this desiring mercy over sacrifice in contrast to the Pharisees. How do you read you soul at this point? Where is your heart?

May God grant you understanding friend. Know your separateness. Freely give what you freely received. Give mercy and abandon requiring sacrifice. Live a life of separateness to God and permit others to experience Him through your life. Ponder and pray regarding the condition of your heart.

While I continue to consider Matthew 13 and the idea of separateness, the thoughts stated in this letter seemed good to share with you. May you daily be built up not just in the knowledge which pertains to your faith but the life itself. Trials will persist. But knowing one’s heart and the promotion of mercy need also persist.

God's best.

Carl

Do You See What Is Coming Up From Behind You?

Greetings Friend.

I know life has been hard on you. We live in a fallen world. We are fallen individuals, and we live among fallen people. In addition, I know that since the last time I wrote, your fleshly passions have been at war with what is of God in you. This ongoing conflict is truly the severest struggle any human will experience, although we at times, or regularly, give greater attention to less important concerns and demands.

Many nights, before the evening’s rest, I read the prayers of a certain saint. I have found this habit both quieting to my mind and soul, as well as informative concerning how another Christian prayed. Last night’s reading contained a reference to Revelation 14:13:

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

I ask you, friend, as I asked myself last night, first to consider or imagine your passage out of this life into the Lord’s presence. What do you envision when you consider this event? Has God brought you to the place where you view this as “blessed”? If you are in the Lord, then this experiential quality awaits you. If the day were today, would it be real for you?

Second, note that “rest” is provided from some type of labor. Rest is truly something we naturally desire. We can all rejoice and delight regarding this rest. The sting, though, comes from the works which follow. Reader, once you are fully in Christ’s presence your life works will join you. What testimony will your works give regarding your earthly life? Have you concerns as you envision this event unfolding in the presence of God?

Even though we live in a fallen world as fallen people, as a Christian (or as a non-Christian, for all must face death and should consider this event) what are the works which will most comfort you in Christ’s presence? Which life works will create the most dread and regret? May I encourage you, dear reader, that you begin by recognizing the deeper conflict you face daily is often more subtle than you may naturally perceive, and that the works associated with this reality of blessedness and rest originate from faith and love. Works which you will be glad to see join you in Christ’s presence are those which can be traced back to the work of God in your life: from God, by God, and for His glory. Works which you will dread the approach of are works of your flesh that can be traced back to what is ungodly in you, for self-glory, or corruptible intent, or worldly purposes.

I find it all too easy, my friend, to read the verse above, enjoy thoughts of blessing, and not allow opportunity for God’s Spirit (who is referenced as showing us this truth) the freedom and time to search me concerning the character and effects of my life as if present before the Lord. And yourself, dear reader, do you see what is coming up from behind you to stand with you before the Lord?

It is my strong desire to continue the series “Do You Sense Your Separateness,” and I trust our God will guide me in doing that soon. What I have just written you pertains to that theme. Do you sense that?

I close this writing to you with a hymn that can easily be a description of my life journey and yours, if you are in Christ, and can become a description of your life if you are now only of the world and do not yet know Christ. Either way, the hymn is rich and can be personalized as prayer or used for contemplation.

May God’s presence be known to you more every moment of each day that He gives you on this earth, and may you rest in His love, goodness and wisdom.

Carl


“O the bitter shame and sorrow,
That a time could ever be
When I let the Savior’s pit
Plead in vain, and proudly answered,
‘All of self, and none of Thee.’

Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on the accursed tree,
Heard Him pray, ‘Forgive them, Father!’
And my wistful heart said faintly,
‘Some of self, and some of Thee.’

Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong, and O! so patient,
Brought me lower, while I whispered,
‘Less of self, and more of Thee.’

Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered;
Grant me now my soul’s desire,
‘None of self, and all of Thee!’”

(Theodore Monad, 1836 – 1931)