January 4, 2010

• Remember last year

  Remember last year . . .
  

  you claimed My grace abounded to you . . .

  you claimed My seed birthed you into My family . . .

  you claimed My Son's blood saved you . . .

  you claimed My Holy Spirit filled you . . .

  you claimed Me as Your Father . . .

  you claimed you knew Me . . .

  you claimed you loved Me . . .

  you claimed you were My disciple . . .

  Remember last year
  
  is this the fruit My grace, My seed, My blood, My Spirit have borne in your life . . .

  your branch
  withering
  unchanged
  unrenewed
  untransformed
  self ruling (not Me)
  alive to sin (not Me)
  sin reigning (not Me)
  glorifying you (not Me)
  loving the world (not Me)
  obeying the flesh (not Me)
  yoked with the world (not Me)
  seeking your kingdom (not Mine)
  zeal for your own house (not Mine)

  Remember last year
  

  Can you really claim My grace ever abounded to you?

  Can you really claim My seed ever birthed you into My family?

  Can you really claim My Son's blood ever saved you?

  Can you really claim My Holy Spirit ever filled you?

  Can you really claim I was ever Your Father?

  Can you really claim you ever knew Me?

  Can you really claim you ever loved Me?

  Can you really claim you were ever My disciple?

  Remember last year
  

  Has My grace abounded to you or not?

  Has My seed birthed you into My family or not?

  Has My Son's blood saved you or not?

  Has My Holy Spirit filled you or not?

  Have I become Your Father or not?

  Do you know Me or not?

  Do you love Me or not?

  Are you My disciple or not?

  Matthew 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

  
  John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

  I John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

  ---

  Related posts:

  • New Year's resolutions? ... not "without God's help" (Jonathan Edwards)
  • With the New Year Come New Resolutions, but How Can We Become Entirely New?
  • God, Love & Cookies ~ Have you abandoned your first Love? (Revelation 2:4)
  • true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  • what's your price? (Bible reading - Matthew 26:14-16)
  • God's Love & Cookies
  • who is your master? (Bible Reading - Matthew)
  • Lent V. - You follow me! (Are we steadfastly setting our faces to His will?)
  • Letter 25 on assurance and fighting for joy (a strong craving ≠ His joy)
  • Fourth Sunday of Advent: Are you preparing Him room?

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