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GOD’S MESSAGE IN THE SNOW

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GOD’S MESSAGE IN THE SNOW

SnowBy Ken Blue

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18T

Today is December 23, 2008, and as I look out my kitchen window at about two feet of snow, which is unusual for the Seattle area, I am reminded of what God said about it in relation to our sins. I am trying to imagine something whiter than the snow, and I find it impossible to do.

I honestly doubt that we can comprehend what God has done for us in Christ. Although my reasoning with God leaves me speechless and without an excuse, His Word assures me that I have been made whiter than snow in Christ Jesus. That too, leaves me speechless, except to praise Him for His mercy! Therefore, I will put His Word above my understanding and His Truth above my reasoning. As I dwell on the beauty and whiteness of the snow, I see God’s message to me and I am blessed. I hope you are too.

MY NAME IS SAMARITAN

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MY NAME IS SAMARITAN
By Ken Blue

My name is Samaritan; I was traveling the Jericho Road
With a beast of burden, my only companion, who carried my daily load.

I happened upon a stranger, who’d been robbed and left for dead
And pouring in wine and oil, “I’ll help you, good neighbor” I said.

I put him on my beast and brought him to an inn
I gave the host two pence and said, “Let his care begin”.

“I travel this road often, nearly every day
I will return again and his debts fully pay”.

The stranger looked up and said, “I didn’t get your name”
“Just call me neighbor”, I said, “perhaps we’ll meet again”.

Religion did not help him, religion does not care
Compassion is more God-like, and His nature you will share.

You ask, “Who is my neighbor?” His name you may not know
But, we can be good neighbors no matter where we go.

Creation’s Travail

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CREATION’S TRAVAIL

By Ken Blue

 

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22

 

A little worm emerged to see what he could see, but he overlooked the Robin setting high up in a tree.

 

The Robins swoop was fatal, with aim that was exact. But, in his satisfaction, he ignored the neighbor’s cat.

 

The cat’s stealth was lethal, with speed no eye could see. Only feathers remained; the Robin was history.

 

The Rottweiler hated that cat; it long had eluded him, but now he had it by the neck and shook it limb to limb.

 

An angry neighbor shot the dog; the police took him away. He spent some time in jail, with a hefty fine to pay.

 

It all started with a look, to see what he could see, and ends with the travail that plagues you and me.

THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

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THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
By Ken Blue

“ (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Colossians 1:15. “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19.
In a previous article I stated that the pastors job is to mature God’s people into the “the image of Christ” However, like most pastors, I failed to explain what it is not; what it is and how it is accomplished.
What the image is not: The above states that God is invisible and that Christ was His image. By considering a few details in the life of Christ, we discover what the image is not.
It certainly is not physical, for He came to Israel and He was not recognized by any, as to who He was. It could not have been His dress, the cut of His hair, His shoes, His living quarters, His bank account, His mode of transportation, or his teaching and preaching ability. It was not tithing, soul-winning or how much Scripture He could quote.
The following adds more light to what the image is not. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:2-5.
The “Marlboro Man” will not do. Physical beauty reveals nothing about God’s image inside. Acceptance by others leaves us in the dark as to whether God indwells us or not. A winning smile and magnet personally is probably misleading. A positive attitude and lack of sorrows may only be applied psychology. The invisible God was not easily seen in Jesus Christ, and yet He was filled without measure.
What the image is: We conclude that the image must be formed in a man, and then perhaps the discerning eye may comprehend it. Paul’s burden for the Galatians was that Christ would be “formed in them.”
When the image of Christ shines through a believer, it will be expressed in the “fruit of the Spirit”. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. We do not have the time or space to expand on each of these. However, the reader should meditate on them until God opens his understanding of what they are and what they are not.
How it is created: This transformation is not something we acquire by practice. It is the supernatural out-flowing of the fullness of Christ from within. It comes about by our personal fellowship with Christ in prayer and Scripture. This transformation is accomplished in the prayer closet and private fellowship of His Word. Until one learns of Him in prayer, Bible study and suffering, the image of Christ will never be evident. As one experiences these, his mind is being renewed in Christ’s likeness. The man most nearly transformed will be the most misunderstood by others (Job, Jeremiah, Christ, Paul, the Twelve). In fact, the believer will be the last to identify it in his own life.
Now you know what it doesn’t look like. Most fundamentalist have missed it by light years. Perhaps I too have missed it. But, I do know what it is and what it is not. Now you do too.

Sermons on the Names of Christ

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Pastor Blue has hundreds of messages on CD.

There are several series on the names of Christ which begin with each letter of the alphabet. You can check other titles at http://www.opendoorbaptist.com/index.aspx. If you don’t see what you like, let us know. We probably have it. Thank you.

$3.00 each  Or $17.50 set + shipping

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