Unveiled faces

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." -- Matt 5:13-14

Israel of old was a chosen nation. A royal people made Holy by the GOD who pursued her heart. GOD set them up in a land of enemies, and told them that they were to be priests, an example to those around them to the power of this LIVING GOD!

Jesus calls us out today in much the same way. We are to be salt and light. Two things very common today, so common that I forget the necessity that both were in the 1st Century.

You see, Satan knows God, and he knows us as well. Our enemy realizes that we can be distracted from our purpose and our focus on YHWH. The lesson that we today can carry from Israel of the Old Testament is this: As long as Israel served the LORD their GOD, they were a mighty force and their enemies…

Ooh, ooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell?
Ooh, ooh that smell
The smell of death surrounds you.
--- "That Smell" Lynyrd Skynyrd 1977

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.
--- 2 Corinthians 2:14-16; The Apostle Paul AD 57

Have you ever become aware of how you smell? Maybe you had worked hard all day and then a breeze hits you just right and WHEW! you are funky. Or maybe it was a more pleasant awareness, like the smell of your shampoo, or you are just blessed with a natural pheromone that is appealing.

I just wonder because every time I read 2 Cor. 2:14-16 I get caught up in the words Aroma of Christ. There is a scent on us that will not wash off; it is like hugging your Grandma, or Mom, or wif…

"Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it."

C.S. Lewis --The World's Last Night




My worth is found only in that which God paid to redeem me.

simply His,
jb

So as I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, the conversation came up about Jesus saying whoever left friends and family would receive much more in His service. So we talked about how that meant more brothers, sisters, moms, friends; but we noticed that Jesus left out Fathers.

That is because God is the only one capable of filling that role. Now he will bring friends into your life to act through in fathering me and you; but He is the only Father.

Now this led me to the thought that it would be nice to have a "tangible" God who would walk with me, and hold my hand, and rub my head. Then I thought of Jesus' words to the 12..."It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." I often think how much easier, or how much more faithful I could be if Jesus could walk with me and do those amazing things He did (kinda like having a God to touch physically).

Then the most amazin…

So what is your favorite song of the moment? No not your anthem that you have loved since high school, or "Your song" that you dance with your partner to...but what is the song that if it came on right now it would just soothe your heart, and ease your mind? What song is it that you sing the chorus (maybe the verses too) in times of need?

For me, it is a song called Deliver Us by Andrew Peterson.

Let me know what you're listening too.

For a man named Saul it took a blinding light and the voice of CHRIST. For a man named Simon it took a Rabbi saying follow me. These are just two examples in the Bible of men who left behind things that they had dreamed of their whole lives and followed Jesus. I wonder what the internal conversations where, I wonder what the family members of the men had to say on the change.

I wonder what it would take for me to be "sold out" to Jesus. To be so intent of following Him and being like Him that I would seek that only. What would it take?

How about you, what would it take?

simply His,
jb

I have been thinking a lot lately, and writing very little. I have had some things that I needed to work out in my mind and heart before I began to post my thoughts. So...

In a recent conversation with a dear brother in Christ, I came to this conclusion (thanks E!)

I am God's mustang. A seemingly wild horse uncontrollable and unbroken. The truth however is that there is no other rider than Christ, no other bit fits my mouth, and no other saddle on my back. When I turn and where I turn are up to FATHER. I will follow no other voice or command.

How about you?

simply His,
jb