ClydeStyle

Category: Honor

  • Some day at Christmas

    Some day at Christmas

    Some day at Christmas we won’t be farmerry-christmas

    from making friends no matter what color they are.

    We will be color blind and our hearts will see

    that God made you and me.

     

    Some day at Christmas we won’t be rude

    and pass out to everyone who has a need for food.

    We will not covet all the things that we see

    because we live for him who died on that tree.

     

    3142505786_793baeb9a7Some day at Christmas all wars will cease.

    Our heart’s desire will be to seek peace.

    We’ll take responsibility for all that we do

    and make this world better for me and you.

     

    Some day at Christmas the deed will be done.

    Our lives will be judged by God’s only son.

    We lived our lives for Christ and stood in his Grace

    and spread love thoughout the human race.

  • So what I’m trying to say is . . .

    20131102-143119.jpg

    In January we tried to start the year new.

    February was the month to build new relationships or strengthen old ones with the help of cupid. It didn’t work.

    In 2013 March brought us the memory of the resurrection as we pondered our relationship with the cross. We felt guilty.

    April always fools us. We’re fooled by people and things and we suffer loss of income, respect and dignity.

    In May and June we remembered our parents, but failed to do anything more meaningful than a visit. We try, and try and try and there just isn’t enough time in a day. These visit are probably the most sincere things we’ll attempt all year, but we have a hard time going beyond that.

    We celebrated our independence in July. The freedoms we enjoy allowed us to over spend, over indulge and over react. We came out of the month with one truth — it’s hotter than hell in July.

    August meant nothing to us. Only emptiness and uncertainty wondering what the rest of the year would bring….

    September was a reminder that we have to work. We must work for our living and work to pay taxes for other people’s living and work to support our government. The ninth month reminds us that there is no rest from our labors.

    October is full of tricks and lies. It lies about the treats because they never existed. And all that’s left is tricks. We live in a world full of unmet expectations and unused potential. The only thing that really happens in the month is that we get tricked.

    November we’re supposed to be thankful and in December we are supposed to be at peace. That doesn’t happen either so all we get is tricked.

    Sooooooooo,

    Dear significant other,

    Since I regularly participate in May and June, I won’t April you. I’m December and I’m November so despite what happens in September, October and August, our February will be July. So let’s January!

  • My God is not a buffet!

    When you live in a country as great as ours, it’s easy to take for granted our bounty. We are used to having things done our way. We live in a “now” society that gives us any and everything we can afford. Our carnal selves actually feed off this abundance and as long as the carnal body has nourishment like this, it will be strong and difficult for us to handle.

    A Chinese buffet restaurant in the United Stat...
    A Chinese buffet restaurant in the United States of America (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    There must be a separation of our spiritual and carnal selves. It was first explained to us in Romans 6 that when we were baptized we put to death the “old man” and that we live anew in Christ. It seems as though we keep nursing the old man back to health. You see, when we take God’s principles to heart, we bear fruit. According to Rom. 6:17 we are to obey from the heart that form of doctrine delivered to us. We can not take the things God offers like we take food from a buffet. At a buffet, you do not have to eat everything — although some people try. At the buffet you can have whatever you like and leave what you don’t like.

    God is quite different.

    God did not send his only son to die for the sins of the world only to see us commit partially to him. God wants us to surrender all and as much as he loves us, he expects us to honor him with our whole lives. There should be none of this “I’ll submit to the things that I like and I’m a work in progress for the rest”. We are to love because God loves us; we are to forgive because God forgave us; we are to treat others with respect because it honors the God we serve.

    So many claim to be children of God, but treat him like a buffet. I was counseling a young lady who was having difficulty potty training her son. This kid was so smart that he would potty on himself and then bring a diaper to his mother so she could change him. Clearly, if this kid could bring the diaper then he could certainly make his deposit into the toilet like anyone else. At the time that we can acknowledge our sin, we need to cut it out. Simply acknowledging our sin is like the boy who brings his mother a diaper for him to be changed. We need to do better than that!

  • Living with honor

    image

    Honor is like a little battery placed on your shoulder that has to stay there as you walk. And then while you’re walking, someone is constantly trying to knock it off.

    Or honor is like a glass of water filled to the brim and someone is trying to get you to spill it.

    Whatever the case, as Christians we are challenged daily and judged by a world which is against us. To be the light in a dark place is not an easy task, but it is the challenge give by the savior. He said to let our lights so shine that others would see our good works and glorify our father in heaven. That sounds easy enough, but have you ever really tried it?

    The Christian must act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God and positive effects are inevitable. We must live our lives with honor remembering that we are citizens of another place and this place we live in is temporal.

    So live with honor that others will find the path. Live with honor to make your calling and election sure. And live with honor so that God will honor you in the end.

  • Does your life put Christ in a place of honor?

    honorHonor is a funny thing in our society. Normally it is given to those who have earned it. It was never designed to be given simply due to a title — it was something to be acquired.

    We honor judges, politicians, clergy, successful businessman and public officials all because of the service they give. We honor fathers and mothers mostly because the bible tells us so and we even honor our spouses — sometimes whether they deserve it or not. Teachers are honored, seniors are honored and even a person who has done a good deed can get our honor.

    Honor is a good name or public reputation. It’s a showing of usually respect:recognition. A privilege. One who’s worth brings respect or fame. Credit. So now chew on this:

    Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

    We know that Christ died, “while we were sinners” and “while we were without strength”. His death, burial and resurrection which are the very facts of his gospel had a profound effect on our place of honor on judgement day.

    You see, his death (shedding of his blood) cleansed our sins and made reconciliation possible. For now God can begin a new relationship with us because of that death. His burial was just as important as it serves as the launch pad for resurrection. You have to have a death and burial or else there is no need for a resurrection. Baptism serves as our burial (launch pad) today as anyone who believes on Jesus and is baptized shall receive a resurrection.

    Romans 6:4 says, “therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.”

    The last part is the resurrection or newness of life. Jesus’ life is what actually saves us (re: Romans 5:10). We are baptized into his death and are resurrected into his life. So that when God judges me, it will be on the merits of Christ’s life and not my own. His life was perfect and my life will be his. This is what is meant in Gal. 2:20 when it says “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, not I, but Christ lives in me.” Gee, I wonder how that happened?

    So, I have been placed in a position of honor by God and I am now to live a life worthy of the honor I have been given. I have been accepted in the beloved and because of grace that is where I shall stay. The life that I now live in the flesh is a life lived by faith in the son of God who has loved me and gave himself for me!

    If I really understand this, then my life must honor his gospel. If I am to take my place in glory it will only be because I demonstrated my understanding of what Christ did for me by my life. There is no greater honor than this.