AND MOVES THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, Neither is
worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth
to all life, and breath and all things, And hath made of one blood all nations of
men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bound of their habitation; That they should seek the
Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far
from every one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring."
tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest", American Heritage Dictionary.
Human beings differ in where they were born, genetic code, upbringing, and
religious environments. But everyone has a need to move across any barriers
between them, and their Maker. The key word there is "Move."
another it may be persecution by unbelievers, or it may be illiteracy. Or it may
even be that obedience to God through Christ has been dethroned by political
pluralism. Now, civil freedom of religion is great. (In my opinion, it has been
the best thing about America, freedom to be a Christian). Nevertheless, God
did not intend for patriotic or cultural emotionalism to replace scripture truth.
"of one blood." No matter what nation, it is still red. We all came from "the
first man Adam" (1 Corinth. 15:45) and "Eve ... the mother of all living"
(Genesis 3:20). And then God determined who we should seek to solve our
problems: Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31; Acts 2:30; Matthew 3:17).
But the keys only work when a person will overcome selfish pride and
ignorance. Shall we now consider some of His ruby and diamond studded
passports to escape the wickedness and deceits of this world?; and into the
liberty of truth? (2 Corinth. 3:12-17)
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt
have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light
of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to all
that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
and hate thine enemy. [see Lev 19:18; Deut 23:6] But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be
the children of you Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even publicans the
same?
such a thing, and then back it up with deeds and doctrine and dynamism. Just
look at what is going on at home and abroad in the name of man's religions.
Look at confusion and contradiction and how people are "stuck" and won't get
unstuck. It is because, they will not move for Christ.
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon.
schizophrenic souls everywhere? Either, or - who cannot grasp that? No
complex carnal manipulations to vainly please contradictory factions or
philosophies. It is either God, or else mammon [things of man, menpleasers,
Colossians 3:22]. Christ is the answer, Colossians 3:23-25.
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophecied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Religiosity. Religion is not enough. It must be moving after Christ, "if haply
they might feel after him", Acts 17:27. It must be moved by Christ. Such
momentum comes after denying self/mammon, letting Christ take over.
saving the best for last. Inertia also means, "... or of a body in motion to stay in
motion in a straight line, unless disturbed by an external force." (Ibid.) So the
good news is that moving for Christ can make inertia to be a positive force,
and build momentum. The nearer one draws to Christ (John 6:44; James 4:8)
the quicker their spirit (Romans 8:11), the less they drag (Hebrews 12:1), the
stronger their power (Colossians 1:11), and the better it works out (Romans
8:28).