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Post by Caretaker on Aug 16, 2009 9:17:48 GMT -6
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Post by Caretaker on Aug 16, 2009 17:35:23 GMT -6
www.rbc.org/utmost/index.phpWhen I have sadly misunderstood Him? (see John 20:11-18 ). It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2 ); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. ". . . she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. . . . Jesus said to her, ’Mary!’ " ( John 20:14, 16 ). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. "She turned and said to Him, ’Rabboni!’ " ( John 20:16 ). When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29 ). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? The other disciples said to Thomas, "We have seen the Lord" ( John 20:25 ). But Thomas doubted, saying, "Unless I see . . . I will not believe" ( John 20:25 ). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches will come we never know, but when they do come they are indescribably precious. "Thomas . . . said to Him, ’My Lord and my God!’ " ( John 20:28 ). When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17 ). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75 ), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. Jesus restored Peter in private, and then He restored him publicly before the others. And Peter said to Him, "Lord . . . You know that I love You" ( John 21:17 ). Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.
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Post by Keith on Aug 17, 2009 8:49:05 GMT -6
Awesome. Thanks Drew.
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Post by veterinarian on Aug 17, 2009 15:45:05 GMT -6
Yes, thank you Caretaker. You live up to your name yet again--taking care of us so that we may follow Jesus.
Those are awesome (and humbling) links!
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Murph
Moderator 
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,000
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Post by Murph on Aug 17, 2009 19:57:02 GMT -6
I have thought more than once about the what might have passed between the Lord and Peter when the Lord appeared to Him or pictured the moment when Mary heard the Lord call her name in the garden and she reconized Him, or when Thomas touched Jesus side and knew it was the Lord and that He had risen.
Thanks Drew...for the reminders.
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Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,000
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Post by Murph on Aug 18, 2009 8:44:59 GMT -6
Matthew 7:21-23, and I will be honest, has always frightened me...
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Post by Keith on Aug 18, 2009 9:32:43 GMT -6
Matthew 7:21-23, and I will be honest, has always frightened me... And what is the will of our Father? "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)If you're believing on the Lord Jesus to save you, you're saved, praise God! The verse from Matthew is speaking of those who we've all seen on television: supposedly casting out demons, 'healing' the sick by waving their arms and watching the misled collapse in a heap, begging the sheep for money then using it to purchase multi-million dollar jets instead of advancing the cause of Christ. We've seen them proclaim that our ills are our fault for not believing strongly enough. That all you got to do is 'Sow a seed to JEE-ZUS and you'll get a blessing!' They prophesy falsly for their own gain. These are the wolves in sheep's clothing that Jesus warned us about (Matthew 7:15). Just like Jesus said, they call Him Lord, but they've never called out to Him as Lord. Big difference. Think about it. |
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Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,000
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Post by Murph on Aug 18, 2009 10:58:07 GMT -6
Thanks Keith. I just don't want to be anywhere that the Lord isn't. I feel like a little child that gets scared at just the thought of not being able to see Mom or Dad...
forgive me if it sounds like anything but what it is...
When my son was a baby he had a toy dog, a Snoopy, and he carried it everywhere he went. We once got half way to the beach and realized, no woobie. So we turned around and went all the way back home to get it because we didn't want to spend vacation with Reece wanting his woobie. There was no need trying to substitute because my son would have known it wasn't his Snoopy.
The Lord is like my woobie...got to have the security of always knowing that my woobie is near.
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Post by veterinarian on Aug 18, 2009 13:18:24 GMT -6
Thanks Keith. I just don't want to be anywhere that the Lord isn't. I feel like a little child that gets scared at just the thought of not being able to see Mom or Dad... forgive me if it sounds like anything but what it is... When my son was a baby he had a toy dog, a Snoopy, and he carried it everywhere he went. We once got half way to the beach and realized, no woobie. So we turned around and went all the way back home to get it because we didn't want to spend vacation with Reece wanting his woobie. There was no need trying to substitute because my son would have known it wasn't his Snoopy. The Lord is like my woobie...got to have the security of always knowing that my woobie is near. I feel the same way. When I was going through the IRS audit that discovered employee theft, I didn't know where I was going or what was going to happen. I truly felt that God was there, but it was like He was just standing and watching, not holding my hand or anything. I never turned away from Him and I'm glad I did not! I feel about God the same way your son felt about his Snoopy. That is the best analogy I have read, Duck, about dependence on God. For what it is worth, I had a stuffed Snoopy that I loved very much when I was a little child. It is long gone now, but I have Someone much better than a stuffed toy now. |
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