Today I've been meditating on the promises of Jesus to the believer. To you and to me. Last week I mentioned that He promised in John 14:12 that those who believe in Him will do even greater things than He did. Do you believe that?
Take a minute and really think about it. Do you believe that you will do all the things Jesus did and even greater things?
Did Jesus exaggerate? Was it a wrong translation? Or could it be possible that we aren't believing the way He meant when He made the promise?
Well, I KNOW Jesus didn't exaggerate. He IS Truth.
Wrong translation? One of the Bible de-powering things I was taught was that even if scripture was originally what God said, the translators messed it up and so you couldn't believe it the way it came to us. I bought that - sort of. But I just couldn't believe that the God of all Creation would allow Jesus' words to be mistranslated. So I believed the Words in Red!!!
Those two questions out of the way, that leaves us as the reason we aren't doing the things Jesus did and greater.
"But I have faith!" "I believe." Do we?
The definition of faith is "trust in God's Word and reliance on His Nature." To truly believe in Jesus means to trust that His Word is true and to rely on His goodness. When I was a child I was taught that the Bible is full of stories that contain wisdom but that you can't believe it literally. I'll never forget when God sent someone who taught me that the Bible contains the Living Word of the Living God and that, yes, I can believe and take it literally - even the words not in red. "Joy unspeakable and full of glory"!!! I Peter 1:8
His Word is forever settled in heaven. But He needs us to believe and receive it on earth. That's why He told us to pray "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10.
Shortly after Jesus said the believer would do greater things than He did, He said, "He that has my commandments and keeps them, that is who loves me, and he that loves me shall be loved by my Father and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21.
Aha! To trust in and rely on Him means that we believe Him and keep His commandments. And what are His commandments? The apostle John says that we have anything we ask of God if we keep His commandments which are: believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (Okay, got that!) and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (Uh-Oh!) I John 3:22,23
Jesus taught in Mark 11: 24-26 that whatever we pray, believe we receive and we will have them and then He says "And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anybody."Hmm. Could it be that we are not seeing ourselves do the things Jesus did, much less the greater things, because we are not walking in love, not forgiving those who wrong us?
He said when we keep His commandments, He will manifest Himself to us. That means He will show Himself to us, His love and power will pour through us. But that can't happen if we are clogged up with resentments, irritations, and unforgiveness.
I hope you and I both (and the rest who read this) will be quick to forgive, quick to be merciful, quick to obey His voice to let Him pour out His blessings to others through us.
And as we do, I believe we are going to begin to see those greater things happen all around us.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Understanding Science
I just returned from several days in my favorite place - Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center. I used to go every other month but had not been since last October. When I walked in "my" cottage Monday afternoon, I burst into tears and realized that I had been homesick and didn't even know it.
There is always a sheet of paper lying on the table that says "Welcome home, Amy Barkman." And I always feel like I've come home. Why? The people I love, my husband, my children, my best friends don't live there. Why would that be home to me? Because there I spend days alone with the Lord. No sounds or distractions of any kind draw my attention from Him. Peace, perfect peace with my Creator, Redeemer, Counselor and Teacher.
This time, besides reading my Bible and praying and relaxing, I studied.
I watched some dvd's with Christian speakers who have studied Quantum Physics. Yes!!!
Wierd? Yes!!! Just like me.
I realized about twenty years ago that I was not normal. I had a passion to study science - which was NOT my best subject back in school. But I began to see that the more I understood science, the more effective my prayers were. It was only about 15 years ago that I started on Quantum Physics. I was/am driven to discover how the universe works.
My desire to understand began as a seed planted in August of 1980 when I was floating on a raft on the Green River in Kentucky. I heard, not an audible voice, but an inner voice that I recognized as God's. He said, "When you understand how the place I live in works and how the place you live in works, and how you and I can both be in both places at the same time, you will start to see miracles happen and they won't seem like miracles at all.
The first thing I realized was that Ephesians teaches that we are seated "together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." That puts me in the place where He is. And "Christ in me, the hope of Glory" puts Him in the place where I am. That is a wonderful thing to know but it didn't cause me to see miracles happen.
Then one day about ten years later I felt the Lord leading me to buy a fourth grade science book at a yard sale for twenty five cents. I discovered that every drop of water that was here in the earth at creation is still here. It just recycles itself. The water we used to brush our teeth could be the very molecules that Jesus walked on! Knowing that the water is all here and doesn't go away helped me pray for it to come and pour down on the land in my area during droughts. I saw results and I developed a desire to understand more science.
I found a scriptural basis for my desire in Daniel 1:4. It was during the time that the Jews were taken into captivity in Babylon. The King told his servant to choose some of the children of Israel to bring to the Palace so they might be taught the language and learning of the Chaldeans.
The description was that the children would be those "in whom there was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in all knowledge, and understanding science..." Among these chosen ones were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.
Did you catch the implication there? These four men worshipped the God of Israel and "understood science." Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and was not harmed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo were bound and thrown into a furnace of fire that was heated seven times stronger than usual. And they came out unharmed "not a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them". There were other people who worshipped the one true God, but were killed for their faith. I believe that "understanding science" was what helped these servants of God overcome the plots to destroy them. They knew that the elements and all the physical universe were created by God, and that they who were created in His image had authority over the elements and all creation.
Jesus walked on water, changed water into wine, walked through angry crowds unseen, restored withered arms, drove away leprosy and other diseases. He understood His authority over the physical realm. He understood science. And He said that Believers would do the things He did AND GREATER THINGS.
People have thought for years that science and scripture disagree but I don't believe that. Science often explains to me what the Bible means when it describes certain things. I believe that God wants us to understand science so we, the Church, will begin to walk in our calling to demonstrate His love and power in the world around us and advance His Kingdom.
I hope you will join me in being abnormal. Ask the Lord to help us - all of us in His Body in the earth - learn how things work so He can use us to get miracles to people and do greater works than He did when He walked in Galilee. I know this much - the way the heavenly realm works and the way this world works are by Words. I'm still learning and looking forward to the time I see miracles as the norm. Aren't you?
Daniel 1:4; 3:14 - 27;6:16-23 John 14:12 Ephesians 1:17 - 2:7 Colossians 1:27 John 1:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3
There is always a sheet of paper lying on the table that says "Welcome home, Amy Barkman." And I always feel like I've come home. Why? The people I love, my husband, my children, my best friends don't live there. Why would that be home to me? Because there I spend days alone with the Lord. No sounds or distractions of any kind draw my attention from Him. Peace, perfect peace with my Creator, Redeemer, Counselor and Teacher.
This time, besides reading my Bible and praying and relaxing, I studied.
I watched some dvd's with Christian speakers who have studied Quantum Physics. Yes!!!
Wierd? Yes!!! Just like me.
I realized about twenty years ago that I was not normal. I had a passion to study science - which was NOT my best subject back in school. But I began to see that the more I understood science, the more effective my prayers were. It was only about 15 years ago that I started on Quantum Physics. I was/am driven to discover how the universe works.
My desire to understand began as a seed planted in August of 1980 when I was floating on a raft on the Green River in Kentucky. I heard, not an audible voice, but an inner voice that I recognized as God's. He said, "When you understand how the place I live in works and how the place you live in works, and how you and I can both be in both places at the same time, you will start to see miracles happen and they won't seem like miracles at all.
The first thing I realized was that Ephesians teaches that we are seated "together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." That puts me in the place where He is. And "Christ in me, the hope of Glory" puts Him in the place where I am. That is a wonderful thing to know but it didn't cause me to see miracles happen.
Then one day about ten years later I felt the Lord leading me to buy a fourth grade science book at a yard sale for twenty five cents. I discovered that every drop of water that was here in the earth at creation is still here. It just recycles itself. The water we used to brush our teeth could be the very molecules that Jesus walked on! Knowing that the water is all here and doesn't go away helped me pray for it to come and pour down on the land in my area during droughts. I saw results and I developed a desire to understand more science.
I found a scriptural basis for my desire in Daniel 1:4. It was during the time that the Jews were taken into captivity in Babylon. The King told his servant to choose some of the children of Israel to bring to the Palace so they might be taught the language and learning of the Chaldeans.
The description was that the children would be those "in whom there was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in all knowledge, and understanding science..." Among these chosen ones were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo.
Did you catch the implication there? These four men worshipped the God of Israel and "understood science." Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and was not harmed. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo were bound and thrown into a furnace of fire that was heated seven times stronger than usual. And they came out unharmed "not a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them". There were other people who worshipped the one true God, but were killed for their faith. I believe that "understanding science" was what helped these servants of God overcome the plots to destroy them. They knew that the elements and all the physical universe were created by God, and that they who were created in His image had authority over the elements and all creation.
Jesus walked on water, changed water into wine, walked through angry crowds unseen, restored withered arms, drove away leprosy and other diseases. He understood His authority over the physical realm. He understood science. And He said that Believers would do the things He did AND GREATER THINGS.
People have thought for years that science and scripture disagree but I don't believe that. Science often explains to me what the Bible means when it describes certain things. I believe that God wants us to understand science so we, the Church, will begin to walk in our calling to demonstrate His love and power in the world around us and advance His Kingdom.
I hope you will join me in being abnormal. Ask the Lord to help us - all of us in His Body in the earth - learn how things work so He can use us to get miracles to people and do greater works than He did when He walked in Galilee. I know this much - the way the heavenly realm works and the way this world works are by Words. I'm still learning and looking forward to the time I see miracles as the norm. Aren't you?
Daniel 1:4; 3:14 - 27;6:16-23 John 14:12 Ephesians 1:17 - 2:7 Colossians 1:27 John 1:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3
Friday, April 29, 2011
Royal Wedding
I'm writing this a few hours before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in London, England. Usually the only royal family events I read about are ones that happened centuries ago, but for some reason I googled the royal wedding and read some of what was written.
I clicked on the "Music Selections" and was interested to see all the music the couple chose for their big event. What fascinated me the most was their hymn selection. The article said that the three hymns are the couple's favorites. They are "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", "Jerusalem", and my own favorite "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling." I am impressed.
"Guide Me" is a plea for guidance and includes the words, "Bread of heaven, feed me til' I want no more." And "Jerusalem" is based on a poem by William Blake which has always fascinated me. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea was a relative of Jesus' who took Him on a trip to England during those years between 12 and 30 about which scripture is silent.
"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?"
I like to think it was true because I have a love for England and a passion for that nation to be, like our own, an example of God's Love and Wisdom.
Anyone who has the hymn "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" as one of their favorites, especially anyone who would choose this song for a ceremony celebrating their own love, immediately commands my interest.
The words of the hymn were written by Charles Wesley in the eighteenth century. They are timeless words of adoration and supplication. Read them aloud. Read them as a prayer to our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1. Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
4. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
I love this hymn for many reasons - but one reason is that it is inclusive. The first verse defines our salvation. In the other verses our sanctification process is described and desired. Commitment is made. Expectation is expressed. And did you notice the last line? This young couple actually have crowns here and now. I pray they truly are able to cast those crowns before Him here and now and that He can use them to further His Kingdom in these days where there is so much war against His Kingdom.
I surprised myself by clicking on the "Leave a message for the Bride and Groom" button. I told them I pray for God to bless them and their calling to leadership. I ask you to pray for them also. And pray for their nation, like our own, to be turned back to the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier and Deliverer.
Pray that God uses them and ourselves to prepare His people for the eternal Royal Wedding with Jesus Christ and His Bride.
Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready. Revelation 19:7
I clicked on the "Music Selections" and was interested to see all the music the couple chose for their big event. What fascinated me the most was their hymn selection. The article said that the three hymns are the couple's favorites. They are "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", "Jerusalem", and my own favorite "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling." I am impressed.
"Guide Me" is a plea for guidance and includes the words, "Bread of heaven, feed me til' I want no more." And "Jerusalem" is based on a poem by William Blake which has always fascinated me. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea was a relative of Jesus' who took Him on a trip to England during those years between 12 and 30 about which scripture is silent.
"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?"
I like to think it was true because I have a love for England and a passion for that nation to be, like our own, an example of God's Love and Wisdom.
Anyone who has the hymn "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" as one of their favorites, especially anyone who would choose this song for a ceremony celebrating their own love, immediately commands my interest.
The words of the hymn were written by Charles Wesley in the eighteenth century. They are timeless words of adoration and supplication. Read them aloud. Read them as a prayer to our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1. Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
3. Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
4. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
I love this hymn for many reasons - but one reason is that it is inclusive. The first verse defines our salvation. In the other verses our sanctification process is described and desired. Commitment is made. Expectation is expressed. And did you notice the last line? This young couple actually have crowns here and now. I pray they truly are able to cast those crowns before Him here and now and that He can use them to further His Kingdom in these days where there is so much war against His Kingdom.
I surprised myself by clicking on the "Leave a message for the Bride and Groom" button. I told them I pray for God to bless them and their calling to leadership. I ask you to pray for them also. And pray for their nation, like our own, to be turned back to the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier and Deliverer.
Pray that God uses them and ourselves to prepare His people for the eternal Royal Wedding with Jesus Christ and His Bride.
Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready. Revelation 19:7
Thursday, April 21, 2011
SPRING FORTH
Spring is a beautiful time of the year - new life "spring"ing up all over the place. I love perennials, the flowers that you plant once and they spring up again year after year. You know they are going to be there and it's exciting to see the first green signs of them pushing through the ground. They are dependable.
I was embarrassed today when I prepared for my dear friend and website updater, Tracy Ruckman, needed changes to the site. I read there that I have a weekly blog. Hmmm, since my last blog was posted on October 14, it has been six months and one week since I wrote a blog. And it was over two months before that the previous one was written. I have done, according to my FBI agent Daddy, the worst sin of all. I lied. I have not kept my word and written a weekly blog. Unlike the perennial flowers, I have not been dependable.
Now I have confessed my sin and been forgiven and hopefully will allow myself to be cleansed of the unrighteousness that caused it. I John 1:9 is my favorite scripture, probably from familiarity of usage! Hopefully you will see my blogs springing forth on a weekly basis from now on.
In a few days we will celebrate the springing forth of Jesus Christ from the grave. Halleluia! He IS alive! And because He is alive, those of us who believe and accept His life are also alive with eternal life.
Yes, there are times when we don't see Him, and times we don't see evidence of our own new life. But He's there and so is the New Creation nature that is the true us. And how exciting when we see Eternal Life pushing through the ground of earthly situations!
One of my favorite scenes in scripture is that of Mary Magdalene at the tomb on that third day after Jesus entered into His Passion. She was weeping because even Jesus' dead body was not in evidence. Nothing was there in that empty tomb on which to pour out her grief. Where was the One she loved so much? I find it interesting, when I read that passage in John 20: 1-18 that two angels were seated where Jesus' body had laid, and they spoke to her, yet she didn't answer them or even show surprise that angels were speaking to her. Then Jesus asked, as they had, why she was crying. He also asked who she was looking for.
She didn't recognize the One she was looking for but thought he was the gardener, and she begged him to tell her where the body was so she could get it back. Then Jesus said something else. He said her name. Just that, "Mary."
And then she knew Him. Recognition sprang forth into her heart. And joy sprang forth into every part of her being. Jesus made her the first post resurrection evangelist by sending her to tell others that He is alive and going to the Father God.
It's like that with us too. We can search among the tombs of doctrines and speculations. We can even believe the historical facts of an empty tomb. But it is when we are able to hear His voice calling our name that true recognition, true faith in the risen Christ, fills us with joy. And when we are able to hear His voice, we can truly be sent by Him with the good news of Eternal Life to all who will hear and receive.
Christianity was born the day Jesus rose from the dead, the day He sprang forth from the ground and manifested Life in all it's Glory. And true Christianity is not a religion but is always a relationship with the living Christ, Jesus the Savior and the Redeemer.
May His Life spring forth in you and in all your circumstances! And may you plant truth in the hearts of those around you and watch His Life spring forth in and for them.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3,4
I was embarrassed today when I prepared for my dear friend and website updater, Tracy Ruckman, needed changes to the site. I read there that I have a weekly blog. Hmmm, since my last blog was posted on October 14, it has been six months and one week since I wrote a blog. And it was over two months before that the previous one was written. I have done, according to my FBI agent Daddy, the worst sin of all. I lied. I have not kept my word and written a weekly blog. Unlike the perennial flowers, I have not been dependable.
Now I have confessed my sin and been forgiven and hopefully will allow myself to be cleansed of the unrighteousness that caused it. I John 1:9 is my favorite scripture, probably from familiarity of usage! Hopefully you will see my blogs springing forth on a weekly basis from now on.
In a few days we will celebrate the springing forth of Jesus Christ from the grave. Halleluia! He IS alive! And because He is alive, those of us who believe and accept His life are also alive with eternal life.
Yes, there are times when we don't see Him, and times we don't see evidence of our own new life. But He's there and so is the New Creation nature that is the true us. And how exciting when we see Eternal Life pushing through the ground of earthly situations!
One of my favorite scenes in scripture is that of Mary Magdalene at the tomb on that third day after Jesus entered into His Passion. She was weeping because even Jesus' dead body was not in evidence. Nothing was there in that empty tomb on which to pour out her grief. Where was the One she loved so much? I find it interesting, when I read that passage in John 20: 1-18 that two angels were seated where Jesus' body had laid, and they spoke to her, yet she didn't answer them or even show surprise that angels were speaking to her. Then Jesus asked, as they had, why she was crying. He also asked who she was looking for.
She didn't recognize the One she was looking for but thought he was the gardener, and she begged him to tell her where the body was so she could get it back. Then Jesus said something else. He said her name. Just that, "Mary."
And then she knew Him. Recognition sprang forth into her heart. And joy sprang forth into every part of her being. Jesus made her the first post resurrection evangelist by sending her to tell others that He is alive and going to the Father God.
It's like that with us too. We can search among the tombs of doctrines and speculations. We can even believe the historical facts of an empty tomb. But it is when we are able to hear His voice calling our name that true recognition, true faith in the risen Christ, fills us with joy. And when we are able to hear His voice, we can truly be sent by Him with the good news of Eternal Life to all who will hear and receive.
Christianity was born the day Jesus rose from the dead, the day He sprang forth from the ground and manifested Life in all it's Glory. And true Christianity is not a religion but is always a relationship with the living Christ, Jesus the Savior and the Redeemer.
May His Life spring forth in you and in all your circumstances! And may you plant truth in the hearts of those around you and watch His Life spring forth in and for them.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3,4
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Butterflies Are Free
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed! John 8:36
The annual Women’s Retreat hosted by Voice of Joy Ministries was held in September and it was one of my favorites. The theme was Butterflies. We looked at the Christian life as compared to the stages of the life of a Butterfly.
Egg:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. I Peter 1:23
We are born again by the Word of God, and are like the tiny egg planted on a leaf. They say if you look closely you can see inside the egg to what is growing there. A butterfly? Not yet – what you can see is a tiny worm like thing. When we are first born again, we don’t look like Jesus Christ in whose image we are destined to become. But the process has begun!
Caterpillar:
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4
When the egg hatches, a little caterpillar emerges. A very hungry little caterpillar! He eats and eats and eats until he grows to be a big caterpillar. If we are smart, the next stage in our Christian life drives us to hunger for the Word of God. I remember when I first got a revelation that the Word of God was a living thing. I devoured it – read it through, the whole thing – in three days. Later I went back and had meals of the Word on a more regular basis. The Word of God causes us to grow, causes our minds to be transformed.
Chrysalis:
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Phil. 2:12,13
When the caterpillar is very fat, it forms a cocoon around itself and you can’t see the caterpillar any more. What is happening to it is done in secret. It is changing forms. It is that way with us. When the Word of God has transformed our minds, we are ready to allow the Lord to change us on the inside. He, through His Living Word and His Holy Spirit, works to bring us to increasingly higher levels of likeness to Himself…until we don’t look like our old self but like Him.
Butterfly:
…as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
When the butterfly emerges, its wings are weak and floppy. Then it begins pumping blood into those wings until they are strong and able to fly. So it is with us. The Blood of Jesus strengthens us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness – continually. One of the first things a butterfly does is look for a mate so it can reproduce. And we too, when we are born again and transformed into His image, desire to share the good news about the new life available to every person because of God’s great mercy and love.
Be free!!!
The annual Women’s Retreat hosted by Voice of Joy Ministries was held in September and it was one of my favorites. The theme was Butterflies. We looked at the Christian life as compared to the stages of the life of a Butterfly.
Egg:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. I Peter 1:23
We are born again by the Word of God, and are like the tiny egg planted on a leaf. They say if you look closely you can see inside the egg to what is growing there. A butterfly? Not yet – what you can see is a tiny worm like thing. When we are first born again, we don’t look like Jesus Christ in whose image we are destined to become. But the process has begun!
Caterpillar:
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4
When the egg hatches, a little caterpillar emerges. A very hungry little caterpillar! He eats and eats and eats until he grows to be a big caterpillar. If we are smart, the next stage in our Christian life drives us to hunger for the Word of God. I remember when I first got a revelation that the Word of God was a living thing. I devoured it – read it through, the whole thing – in three days. Later I went back and had meals of the Word on a more regular basis. The Word of God causes us to grow, causes our minds to be transformed.
Chrysalis:
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Phil. 2:12,13
When the caterpillar is very fat, it forms a cocoon around itself and you can’t see the caterpillar any more. What is happening to it is done in secret. It is changing forms. It is that way with us. When the Word of God has transformed our minds, we are ready to allow the Lord to change us on the inside. He, through His Living Word and His Holy Spirit, works to bring us to increasingly higher levels of likeness to Himself…until we don’t look like our old self but like Him.
Butterfly:
…as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
When the butterfly emerges, its wings are weak and floppy. Then it begins pumping blood into those wings until they are strong and able to fly. So it is with us. The Blood of Jesus strengthens us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness – continually. One of the first things a butterfly does is look for a mate so it can reproduce. And we too, when we are born again and transformed into His image, desire to share the good news about the new life available to every person because of God’s great mercy and love.
Be free!!!
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