I finally arrived home, to find that my father had already planned the week out for me. The past few days have been spent doing benevolence, passing out food packages, clothing, checking up on church building projects, and about a dozen other things that have taken up my time.
I got to see my niece and my nephew, they've grown.
Every time I come home nostalgia seems to wash over me. I remember my childhood with great clarity, the times my grandfather used to come home bruised and beaten by the secret police, the unannounced visits by the police who would ransack our home looking for Bibles, the apple orchard, the well in the front yard, all the things that make up the essence of who we are at the end of this life, the memories we hold onto, for better or worse.
This present life gets busy sometimes, we have responsibilities, bills to pay, porches to mend, fences to paint, children to raise, and we overlook or minimize the need for taking that precious time and making happy memories with those closest to us, family and friends, wives and husbands, children and grandchildren.
Since my Internet connection is intermittent at best, I will not make this post long, and I promise sometime this week before Christmas eve, I will carve out a niche of time and make a more substantial post.
The only thing worthy of note on my heart tonight, yes it's night time here, is to make the precious times with those you love, truly precious. Life passes so quickly, and we often don't notice that it has slipped away until we are far advanced in years, when the knees start to ache, and the joints get stiff. Life, even this present life, in this present generation, duplicitous and unloving as it may be, is a gift from God, one that we as children of God must value and appreciate.
Life's too short to hold grudges, or harbor ill feelings, to let bitterness stain our hearts, and stifle our spiritual growth. I don't know who this is for, but perhaps it's time to forgive, for you were once forgiven of far more grievous things than a misspoken word or perceived insult.
May you be blessed, and loved, and comforted. May the light of Christ shine in you and through you that the world might see His nature in all you are and all you do.
Until the next time I am able to get a connection, and have a few minutes to spare, God bless.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Foresight
Sin does not come upon a nation suddenly. It is a slow process that creeps into the heart of a nation, like a malignancy that continues to grow and consume everything that is pure and just. If sin would show its true face, if disobedience would advertise the final outcome, there would be less compromise, and willful disobedience of God’s word in this world. Sin takes its time; it realizes that in order to corrupt the whole it must begin by corrupting a mere fragment of the whole.
The inevitable decline of a nation which gives itself over to sin has been documented throughout history. It always begins innocently enough, but given enough time unopposed, the descent into darkness is unavoidable. Soon enough what was perceived as sinful yesterday, becomes accepted practice in the present, and what is perceived as detestable in the present, will become common practice in the near future.
To most the decline of a nation is imperceptible. It comes about so slowly, that most write off the depravity, attributing it to progress, the expected shift in the perception of a certain generation due to its evolution in terms of civilization. There have always been however, the few who see moral decline in a nation for what it is, and though the present might not be all that bad, foresight gives them a glimpse into the near future. If one travels long enough on any given road, his final destination becomes a certainty. Foresight allows such men to see the end result of continued compromise, of willful disobedience, and compounded rejection of God’s love and mercy.
Elijah was such a man. He saw where Israel was headed, and his heart ached. He realized that their worshiping of idols, and rejection of God’s commandments would lead the nation that he so loved to a dark day of reckoning, and judgment.
The land was dry and barren, for it had not rained for three years and six months. God was pressing down upon His people, attempting to get their attention, but the more He pressed, the more rebellious they became. Although the prophecy had come to pass, that it would not rain in the land for some years, Jezebel was still thirsty for the blood of the prophets, and those who would not compromise their faith. Yes, Elijah had been right, but this did not deter the queen and her minions from hunting down the men of God and slaughtering them mercilessly.
Elijah was a hunted man. A great manhunt had been underway for some time, in an attempt to find him. Blinded by his own sin Ahab had sent men to neighboring nations and kingdoms looking for the man of God, asking the kings of the nations to swear an oath to him that Elijah had not been in their nation before he continued his search.
Things had gone from bad to worse, and now Ahab was preoccupied with finding grass for his horses and mules, so he wouldn’t have to kill them. The nation spiraled out of control, yet never considered that turning their hearts back to the God they had abandoned might be the remedy to all their troubles.
When a heart is hardened to the truth by the sin it has allowed to fester there, when it invites darkness and shuns the light, the most obvious answers to the most burning questions become illusive and unattainable. Sin had blinded the nation to the truth, and rather than repent, their blood lust against the prophets of God only heightened.
The time had come to make a stand, and prompted by the voice of God, Elijah met Obadiah, the man who was in charge of Ahab’s house, and asked him to pass a message on to Ahab. The message was simple, and straightforward, “go, tell your master, Elijah is here!”
It was to be God’s final attempt at reaching His people before outright judgment would be poured out, and God had chosen a vessel by which to fulfill His plans. When God speaks, we have no choice but to obey. Here was Elijah, eluding Ahab and his soldiers for over three years, hiding in caves, always on the run, when God speaks to him, telling him to go and see the man who wanted his blood. Being a servant of God most often requires that we spend much of the time outside of our comfort zones. It is certain that Elijah was not pleased concerning the fact that he was to meet with Ahab, but he knew that the One who sent him, would also ensure his safety.
The messages was relayed to Ahab, and the king went to meet with Elijah. Upon seeing him Ahab said to Elijah, “Is that you, o troubler of Israel?”
Obviously it was not the friendliest of greetings, but it allows us to see whom Ahab had been blaming for the lack of rain in the land all these years. Never did it cross his mind that rejection of the one true God may be to blame, in his mind it was Elijah’s fault. Ahab was now face to face with the guilty party, the one who had caused all these troubles to come upon Israel, and he would let him know as much.
One trait that all true men of God in the Bible are known for is their unwillingness to hold back the truth for fear of offending the party they are addressing. Here was Elijah, standing before the king of Israel, with absolutely no regard for his feelings, not willing to sugarcoat his reply to Ahab’s greeting even if it meant further angering the man.
In today’s society Christian leaders have developed a fondness for pulling their verbal punches, for watering down the message for fear of offending those who would hear it. If only they were willing to stand firm and unwavering for that which they believed, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much confusion, so many gray areas when it comes to the faith, to doctrine, and to teaching. Truth must be our banner, our standard, our cause and our mission, and though it is likely to offend some, it may serve to wake others from their slumber of indifference.
Elijah would not hold back the truth from Ahab’s ears, and in keeping with the tradition of those chosen men who came before him, Elijah’s reply to Ahab was somewhat brutal and to the point.
1 Kings 18:18, “And he (Elijah) answered, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.”
Elijah’s reply to Ahab’s accusation of being the one who troubled Israel might have been as a hard slap to the face, but his reaction proves that it had the intended effect. When Elijah asked for all of Israel to be gathered on Mount Carmel, Ahab did not protest, but rather did as the man of God asked and gathered all of Israel, including the prophets of Baal.
Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is another lesson in and of itself that I will reserve for another time. The lessons we were mean tot glean from this present article, are of themselves important for anyone who sees the nation’s descent into sin and depravity, for all those with God given foresight of where we are headed if we do not change course.
Silence is not an option when it comes to sin and compromise, especially within the house of God. It is due to the silent majority that sin is allowed to flourish, unabated and unchallenged.
The fear of many is that no one will listen, even if they speak, that no one will heed even if they warn. As true servants, as true disciples of Christ, we must overcome the fear, realizing that our only duty is to speak the truth. The listening and the heeding of truth is up to the individuals whom God brings across our path, our only duty is to open our mouths and be a witness. Long ago I realized I have no control over the hearts of men, or their reactions when it comes to the truth of God’s word. I however, must do my part that God may do His. It is God who pricks the heart, who stirs the conscience, and if one will heed, and if one will repent, a lifetime of preaching will have been worth it.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
The inevitable decline of a nation which gives itself over to sin has been documented throughout history. It always begins innocently enough, but given enough time unopposed, the descent into darkness is unavoidable. Soon enough what was perceived as sinful yesterday, becomes accepted practice in the present, and what is perceived as detestable in the present, will become common practice in the near future.
To most the decline of a nation is imperceptible. It comes about so slowly, that most write off the depravity, attributing it to progress, the expected shift in the perception of a certain generation due to its evolution in terms of civilization. There have always been however, the few who see moral decline in a nation for what it is, and though the present might not be all that bad, foresight gives them a glimpse into the near future. If one travels long enough on any given road, his final destination becomes a certainty. Foresight allows such men to see the end result of continued compromise, of willful disobedience, and compounded rejection of God’s love and mercy.
Elijah was such a man. He saw where Israel was headed, and his heart ached. He realized that their worshiping of idols, and rejection of God’s commandments would lead the nation that he so loved to a dark day of reckoning, and judgment.
The land was dry and barren, for it had not rained for three years and six months. God was pressing down upon His people, attempting to get their attention, but the more He pressed, the more rebellious they became. Although the prophecy had come to pass, that it would not rain in the land for some years, Jezebel was still thirsty for the blood of the prophets, and those who would not compromise their faith. Yes, Elijah had been right, but this did not deter the queen and her minions from hunting down the men of God and slaughtering them mercilessly.
Elijah was a hunted man. A great manhunt had been underway for some time, in an attempt to find him. Blinded by his own sin Ahab had sent men to neighboring nations and kingdoms looking for the man of God, asking the kings of the nations to swear an oath to him that Elijah had not been in their nation before he continued his search.
Things had gone from bad to worse, and now Ahab was preoccupied with finding grass for his horses and mules, so he wouldn’t have to kill them. The nation spiraled out of control, yet never considered that turning their hearts back to the God they had abandoned might be the remedy to all their troubles.
When a heart is hardened to the truth by the sin it has allowed to fester there, when it invites darkness and shuns the light, the most obvious answers to the most burning questions become illusive and unattainable. Sin had blinded the nation to the truth, and rather than repent, their blood lust against the prophets of God only heightened.
The time had come to make a stand, and prompted by the voice of God, Elijah met Obadiah, the man who was in charge of Ahab’s house, and asked him to pass a message on to Ahab. The message was simple, and straightforward, “go, tell your master, Elijah is here!”
It was to be God’s final attempt at reaching His people before outright judgment would be poured out, and God had chosen a vessel by which to fulfill His plans. When God speaks, we have no choice but to obey. Here was Elijah, eluding Ahab and his soldiers for over three years, hiding in caves, always on the run, when God speaks to him, telling him to go and see the man who wanted his blood. Being a servant of God most often requires that we spend much of the time outside of our comfort zones. It is certain that Elijah was not pleased concerning the fact that he was to meet with Ahab, but he knew that the One who sent him, would also ensure his safety.
The messages was relayed to Ahab, and the king went to meet with Elijah. Upon seeing him Ahab said to Elijah, “Is that you, o troubler of Israel?”
Obviously it was not the friendliest of greetings, but it allows us to see whom Ahab had been blaming for the lack of rain in the land all these years. Never did it cross his mind that rejection of the one true God may be to blame, in his mind it was Elijah’s fault. Ahab was now face to face with the guilty party, the one who had caused all these troubles to come upon Israel, and he would let him know as much.
One trait that all true men of God in the Bible are known for is their unwillingness to hold back the truth for fear of offending the party they are addressing. Here was Elijah, standing before the king of Israel, with absolutely no regard for his feelings, not willing to sugarcoat his reply to Ahab’s greeting even if it meant further angering the man.
In today’s society Christian leaders have developed a fondness for pulling their verbal punches, for watering down the message for fear of offending those who would hear it. If only they were willing to stand firm and unwavering for that which they believed, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much confusion, so many gray areas when it comes to the faith, to doctrine, and to teaching. Truth must be our banner, our standard, our cause and our mission, and though it is likely to offend some, it may serve to wake others from their slumber of indifference.
Elijah would not hold back the truth from Ahab’s ears, and in keeping with the tradition of those chosen men who came before him, Elijah’s reply to Ahab was somewhat brutal and to the point.
1 Kings 18:18, “And he (Elijah) answered, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.”
Elijah’s reply to Ahab’s accusation of being the one who troubled Israel might have been as a hard slap to the face, but his reaction proves that it had the intended effect. When Elijah asked for all of Israel to be gathered on Mount Carmel, Ahab did not protest, but rather did as the man of God asked and gathered all of Israel, including the prophets of Baal.
Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is another lesson in and of itself that I will reserve for another time. The lessons we were mean tot glean from this present article, are of themselves important for anyone who sees the nation’s descent into sin and depravity, for all those with God given foresight of where we are headed if we do not change course.
Silence is not an option when it comes to sin and compromise, especially within the house of God. It is due to the silent majority that sin is allowed to flourish, unabated and unchallenged.
The fear of many is that no one will listen, even if they speak, that no one will heed even if they warn. As true servants, as true disciples of Christ, we must overcome the fear, realizing that our only duty is to speak the truth. The listening and the heeding of truth is up to the individuals whom God brings across our path, our only duty is to open our mouths and be a witness. Long ago I realized I have no control over the hearts of men, or their reactions when it comes to the truth of God’s word. I however, must do my part that God may do His. It is God who pricks the heart, who stirs the conscience, and if one will heed, and if one will repent, a lifetime of preaching will have been worth it.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
True Greatness Part 2
After some thirty six hours of hurrying up, then sitting around, of automobiles and planes, of waiting for delayed flights,and for snow storms to pass by, I finally made it to Romania. The journey is always maddening, but once you get home it makes it all worthwhile. I'm sure there's a sermon in there somewhere, but I will save it for another time. My brother Daniel met me at the airport, and we talked throughout the long drive to Iasi. The weather has turned in Romania as well, and we were racing a snowstorm all the way home. As I write these lines, I am staring out the window of my brother's apartment, onto the dome of a four hundred year old cathedral, covered in snow. Yes, it is very different here, than staring out the window of my apartment in the US and seeing a WalMart advertisement.
I just woke up after sleeping thirteen hours. I was tired. My brother said he was minutes away from checking my pulse to see if I was still alive. I will be traveling to Botosani tomorrow, to see the rest of the family, and get settled. Thank you all for your prayers, and encouraging words. I apologize for not being able to post the rest of the message on Friday, but I was running late as it was.
Jesus uses the parable of a child’s humility in an attempt to open His disciples’ eyes, and bring them to understanding. The humility of a child is truly beautiful and natural. A child does not know that he is humble, and herein lies the beauty of what Jesus was endeavoring to teach His followers. When you know that you are humble, you have not as yet, reached or achieved true humility. Children are unconcerned with the fact that some adults may look down on them, or consider them worthless. The Christ unclothed Himself of heavenly glory that he may become a child, who was born in a manger. No one could have humbled themselves more than He, and no one will ever again achieve such a level of humility. Thus the reason the Father raised Him up, higher than any other in His vast kingdom, becoming the greatest.
Humility is the road to greatness. The smaller we become, the greater we become. If we look upon the example of the child, and his humility, we realize a child’s attitude is ‘I am nothing, I know nothing, I can do nothing, I have nothing.’ A newborn child is unable to survive on its own, and is dependent on its parents to feed it, clothe it, teach it and raise it. The newborns of other creatures are able to fend for themselves from birth. They are able to forage, to hunt, to survive on their own, yet the offspring of man is unable to do any of those things.
A newborn baby is wholly dependent, and this is how man must be in respect to his relationship with God. What does man truly know of all the mysteries that surround him? His own strength is insignificant, mere nothingness, in the face of all that surrounds him, be it circumstances, or nature. What does man truly possess? Naked he came from his mother’s womb, naked he will return to the earth.
If man can have, and do anything in and of himself, it is always in the negative. If he is able to do anything, it is to commit evil; if he is anything he is a sinner; if he has anything, it is a multitude of sins. As long as man does not acknowledge these truths concerning himself, as long as he does not come to terms with his Godless condition, he will neither repent, be born again, or enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Go cannot stand the exaltation of flesh, and the pride of sinful man in the midst of a ruined and fallen world. It is a stench to His nostrils, an abhorrence before His eyes. It is humility that brings us to that place, at the foot of the cross, wherein we are stripped of the pride, the self, the flesh, and clothed in Christ.
Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
Isaiah 2:11-12, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up, and it shall be brought low.”
True greatness is the way of humility, of selflessness, of daily dying to this flesh, and allowing the glory of God to shine in us and through us. It is the greatness of God that we must seek in this hour, and we seek it not for our benefit, or our glory, but for His glory. God, who knows the heart of every man, knows why we desire greatness, whether for His glory, or our own, He knows.
If righteousness is found within, if the purity of our hearts and minds are centered on the greatness of God, then it is He who will exalt us, who will lift us up. However, if the desire for greatness is centered upon this present time, upon this flesh, and our aspirations revolve around selfish pursuits, it is His promise that He will come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up, and it shall be brought low.
If you desire true greatness, it can be found at the foot of the cross, in humble supplication before the Creator of all that is, desiring nothing more that He become our all in all, that He guide us and direct us, that we hear His voice, and feel the warmth of his love in perpetuity.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
I just woke up after sleeping thirteen hours. I was tired. My brother said he was minutes away from checking my pulse to see if I was still alive. I will be traveling to Botosani tomorrow, to see the rest of the family, and get settled. Thank you all for your prayers, and encouraging words. I apologize for not being able to post the rest of the message on Friday, but I was running late as it was.
Jesus uses the parable of a child’s humility in an attempt to open His disciples’ eyes, and bring them to understanding. The humility of a child is truly beautiful and natural. A child does not know that he is humble, and herein lies the beauty of what Jesus was endeavoring to teach His followers. When you know that you are humble, you have not as yet, reached or achieved true humility. Children are unconcerned with the fact that some adults may look down on them, or consider them worthless. The Christ unclothed Himself of heavenly glory that he may become a child, who was born in a manger. No one could have humbled themselves more than He, and no one will ever again achieve such a level of humility. Thus the reason the Father raised Him up, higher than any other in His vast kingdom, becoming the greatest.
Humility is the road to greatness. The smaller we become, the greater we become. If we look upon the example of the child, and his humility, we realize a child’s attitude is ‘I am nothing, I know nothing, I can do nothing, I have nothing.’ A newborn child is unable to survive on its own, and is dependent on its parents to feed it, clothe it, teach it and raise it. The newborns of other creatures are able to fend for themselves from birth. They are able to forage, to hunt, to survive on their own, yet the offspring of man is unable to do any of those things.
A newborn baby is wholly dependent, and this is how man must be in respect to his relationship with God. What does man truly know of all the mysteries that surround him? His own strength is insignificant, mere nothingness, in the face of all that surrounds him, be it circumstances, or nature. What does man truly possess? Naked he came from his mother’s womb, naked he will return to the earth.
If man can have, and do anything in and of himself, it is always in the negative. If he is able to do anything, it is to commit evil; if he is anything he is a sinner; if he has anything, it is a multitude of sins. As long as man does not acknowledge these truths concerning himself, as long as he does not come to terms with his Godless condition, he will neither repent, be born again, or enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Go cannot stand the exaltation of flesh, and the pride of sinful man in the midst of a ruined and fallen world. It is a stench to His nostrils, an abhorrence before His eyes. It is humility that brings us to that place, at the foot of the cross, wherein we are stripped of the pride, the self, the flesh, and clothed in Christ.
Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
Isaiah 2:11-12, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up, and it shall be brought low.”
True greatness is the way of humility, of selflessness, of daily dying to this flesh, and allowing the glory of God to shine in us and through us. It is the greatness of God that we must seek in this hour, and we seek it not for our benefit, or our glory, but for His glory. God, who knows the heart of every man, knows why we desire greatness, whether for His glory, or our own, He knows.
If righteousness is found within, if the purity of our hearts and minds are centered on the greatness of God, then it is He who will exalt us, who will lift us up. However, if the desire for greatness is centered upon this present time, upon this flesh, and our aspirations revolve around selfish pursuits, it is His promise that He will come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up, and it shall be brought low.
If you desire true greatness, it can be found at the foot of the cross, in humble supplication before the Creator of all that is, desiring nothing more that He become our all in all, that He guide us and direct us, that we hear His voice, and feel the warmth of his love in perpetuity.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
True Greatness Part 1
I've spent the last two days trying to put the December/January newsletter to bed. I needed to get it done before I left. With less than twenty four hours to go before takeoff, I still haven't packed a thing. I apologize for not posting anything yesterday, there just wasn't any time.
Matthew 18:2-4, "And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, 'assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
The desire for greatness is as natural to the human existence as life itself. From the day of his birth until the day a man breathes his last, he wages an unending crusade for survival, and to achieve greatness. The disciples of Christ were no different than you or I when it came to their humanity, and so one day as Jesus was among them, they came to Him saying, 'Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?' Whether they were speaking only of the twelve that were gathered before Him, asking Him to choose the greatest from among them, we do not know, but one thing is certain, they desired to know who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
Who placed this desire for greatness in men's hearts? Most of us would be tempted to answer: the devil. Perceived only from one singular viewpoint, a single prism, it would appear to be a logical assessment, the enemy is the one who places the desire for greatness in men's hearts; yet when viewed as a whole, perception shifts, and new understanding is gleaned.
Just as it is not sin to struggle, to labor, in earning one's daily bread, as it is a necessity of this present life it is not sin to desire greatness, to desire to reach the top of the proverbial pyramid, to attain perfection, for fear of remaining in darkness, on par with the earthworm. The desire to be great, to be elevated toward a more perfect light, toward a more complete understanding, and greater spirituality, is planted in the souls of men by God, the creator of all.
Two things however must remain affixed to our hearts in permanence, to be meditated upon in perpetuity:
1. How is it that we achieve true greatness?
2. Whom do we desire to achieve greatness for?
The desire for greatness can be birthed and guided by God, but at the same time the enemy can fuel it also, depending on the condition of one's heart. If my heart is pure before God, then I know my desire is for His greatness in me, no my greatness in myself. If however, selfishness still finds a home in said heart, and sin abounds there, the desire for greatness becomes nothing more than an outwardly expression of inward selfishness.
Everything man may accomplish that does not have the glory of God as the primary objective of said accomplishment, is the work of the enemy, disguised in nobility. The greatness and perfection men seek can only be found in submission and obedience of God's word, and humility before His eternal countenance.
Dark and horrible things happen when men's selfishness is the driving force behind their desire for greatness. The heart of man is exceedingly cunning, and to quench its thirst for greatness it uses the most vile of means.
Selfishness will often put on the innocent and beautiful robes of benevolence, just to be viewed as great in the eyes of others. Self does not labor on behalf of God; it labors on behalf of its own vanity and pride. In order to achieve its objective the self will trample underfoot everything that is holy and just, because it is driven by the idea that the end justifies the means. History has proven time and time again that the most beautiful of ideals have hidden the most hideous and bloodthirsty monsters. Only God knows the horrors that have been committed under the cloak of false godliness, and time and time again we have been shown the grotesque reality of hypocrisy, hidden beneath the mask of self-righteousness.
The Bible does not hide the mistake of God's children. It does not sweep their shortcomings under the rug, or attempt to minimize them, the Bible reveals their humanity, and in this case, the disciples of Christ were vying for the highest office, because they believed that their Teacher would soon be King on earth. Their desire for earthly greatness was not omitted from the Word, but neither was Christ's rebuke of them. The reason this passage was included in the Bible, was not that we would follow the example of the disciples, but to keep away from the selfish desires of greatness concerning this earth and the things thereof.
True greatness, is desiring the fullness of God every day of your life, in recognizing God's authority, omnipotence, and sovereignty in all things. True greatness is pursuing a relationship with Christ that goes beyond the ordinary or nominal Christianity, into a new dimension of greatness and intimacy. With every prayer a brother uttered, he would always include the words, 'and Lord, please don't let me be a ordinary Christian', as his ending phrase. It is a noble pursuit and a mark of greatness, to desire to be more like Christ.
There is one interesting aspect in the conversation between Christ and His disciples. While they were asking who would be the greatest in His kingdom, Christ was attempting to show them what it would take for them to even make it there. They were so obsessed with the idea of being great, that they stopped thinking about being saved.
Two attributes are necessary to attain true greatness, which can only be achieved once salvation is had. I speak not of the transitory greatness of the world, but of the lasting greatness that comes from God, and extends into eternity. The first attribute is that one must be converted, and become as a little child, in essence, to be born again. The second, to humble oneself.
I will save the discussion of what it means to be born again for another time, perhaps another post, and now focus on the second attribute one must possess in order to be great in the kingdom of God.
In order to become humble, one must first and foremost return to God, and acknowledge the fullness of who God is. True realization of all God's attributes, tends to expose us to the reality of just how insignificant we are. He is the Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, He is all knowing, all powerful He can speak worlds into existence, and the Universe bends to His will.
When we embrace God, we reject pride; we reject the habitation of the enemy and enter into the habitation of God. A wise man once said, 'the fundamental of Christian philosophy is humility.' As long as we still retain the illusion that we are capable, able, or strong in and of ourselves, the flesh is still able to rise up and inject an overwhelming dose of pride in our hearts. Pride kills; humility makes us great in the eyes of God.
I just realized this thought was too long to fit into one post, and so I will attempt to finish the second part of this post sometime before my departure tomorrow morning.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Matthew 18:2-4, "And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, 'assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
The desire for greatness is as natural to the human existence as life itself. From the day of his birth until the day a man breathes his last, he wages an unending crusade for survival, and to achieve greatness. The disciples of Christ were no different than you or I when it came to their humanity, and so one day as Jesus was among them, they came to Him saying, 'Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?' Whether they were speaking only of the twelve that were gathered before Him, asking Him to choose the greatest from among them, we do not know, but one thing is certain, they desired to know who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
Who placed this desire for greatness in men's hearts? Most of us would be tempted to answer: the devil. Perceived only from one singular viewpoint, a single prism, it would appear to be a logical assessment, the enemy is the one who places the desire for greatness in men's hearts; yet when viewed as a whole, perception shifts, and new understanding is gleaned.
Just as it is not sin to struggle, to labor, in earning one's daily bread, as it is a necessity of this present life it is not sin to desire greatness, to desire to reach the top of the proverbial pyramid, to attain perfection, for fear of remaining in darkness, on par with the earthworm. The desire to be great, to be elevated toward a more perfect light, toward a more complete understanding, and greater spirituality, is planted in the souls of men by God, the creator of all.
Two things however must remain affixed to our hearts in permanence, to be meditated upon in perpetuity:
1. How is it that we achieve true greatness?
2. Whom do we desire to achieve greatness for?
The desire for greatness can be birthed and guided by God, but at the same time the enemy can fuel it also, depending on the condition of one's heart. If my heart is pure before God, then I know my desire is for His greatness in me, no my greatness in myself. If however, selfishness still finds a home in said heart, and sin abounds there, the desire for greatness becomes nothing more than an outwardly expression of inward selfishness.
Everything man may accomplish that does not have the glory of God as the primary objective of said accomplishment, is the work of the enemy, disguised in nobility. The greatness and perfection men seek can only be found in submission and obedience of God's word, and humility before His eternal countenance.
Dark and horrible things happen when men's selfishness is the driving force behind their desire for greatness. The heart of man is exceedingly cunning, and to quench its thirst for greatness it uses the most vile of means.
Selfishness will often put on the innocent and beautiful robes of benevolence, just to be viewed as great in the eyes of others. Self does not labor on behalf of God; it labors on behalf of its own vanity and pride. In order to achieve its objective the self will trample underfoot everything that is holy and just, because it is driven by the idea that the end justifies the means. History has proven time and time again that the most beautiful of ideals have hidden the most hideous and bloodthirsty monsters. Only God knows the horrors that have been committed under the cloak of false godliness, and time and time again we have been shown the grotesque reality of hypocrisy, hidden beneath the mask of self-righteousness.
The Bible does not hide the mistake of God's children. It does not sweep their shortcomings under the rug, or attempt to minimize them, the Bible reveals their humanity, and in this case, the disciples of Christ were vying for the highest office, because they believed that their Teacher would soon be King on earth. Their desire for earthly greatness was not omitted from the Word, but neither was Christ's rebuke of them. The reason this passage was included in the Bible, was not that we would follow the example of the disciples, but to keep away from the selfish desires of greatness concerning this earth and the things thereof.
True greatness, is desiring the fullness of God every day of your life, in recognizing God's authority, omnipotence, and sovereignty in all things. True greatness is pursuing a relationship with Christ that goes beyond the ordinary or nominal Christianity, into a new dimension of greatness and intimacy. With every prayer a brother uttered, he would always include the words, 'and Lord, please don't let me be a ordinary Christian', as his ending phrase. It is a noble pursuit and a mark of greatness, to desire to be more like Christ.
There is one interesting aspect in the conversation between Christ and His disciples. While they were asking who would be the greatest in His kingdom, Christ was attempting to show them what it would take for them to even make it there. They were so obsessed with the idea of being great, that they stopped thinking about being saved.
Two attributes are necessary to attain true greatness, which can only be achieved once salvation is had. I speak not of the transitory greatness of the world, but of the lasting greatness that comes from God, and extends into eternity. The first attribute is that one must be converted, and become as a little child, in essence, to be born again. The second, to humble oneself.
I will save the discussion of what it means to be born again for another time, perhaps another post, and now focus on the second attribute one must possess in order to be great in the kingdom of God.
In order to become humble, one must first and foremost return to God, and acknowledge the fullness of who God is. True realization of all God's attributes, tends to expose us to the reality of just how insignificant we are. He is the Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, He is all knowing, all powerful He can speak worlds into existence, and the Universe bends to His will.
When we embrace God, we reject pride; we reject the habitation of the enemy and enter into the habitation of God. A wise man once said, 'the fundamental of Christian philosophy is humility.' As long as we still retain the illusion that we are capable, able, or strong in and of ourselves, the flesh is still able to rise up and inject an overwhelming dose of pride in our hearts. Pride kills; humility makes us great in the eyes of God.
I just realized this thought was too long to fit into one post, and so I will attempt to finish the second part of this post sometime before my departure tomorrow morning.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
A Martyr Remembered Part 2
Acts 7:57-58, "Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul."
Keep in mind this was not a crowd of uneducated brutes, the great high priest was there, as was the entire council. These were men who considered themselves deeply religious, keepers of the law. Religious as they considered themselves to be, their fury blinded them. They regressed to the point of stopping up their ears, hoping the words of Stephen would no longer make their way into their hearts. They could take no more. Their sin had been exposed, their hypocrisy revealed and now they would become the result of their actions. Envy and hate judge absent of reason, and nothing angers, and stirs the embers of hatred in deception more than the sun of truth shining down upon it.
In order to protect their religion, and religiosity, those considered most pious among the people, the religious elite, no longer had ears to hear, or hearts to understand the truth. Stripped of their cloaks of false righteousness, the zealous defenders of religion, and religious systems, to this day stone the confessors of Christ.
When they heard Stephen speaking of the heavens opening up, and especially of the Son of God, their fury was such that it kept them from taking him before the Roman authorities, from having a fair trial, or simply having a magistrate pronounce a death sentence as was customary. They dragged him out of the city and stoned him, without the illusion of due process, or trial.
Truth never killed anyone. Yes, men have been killed for the sake of truth, men have gladly sacrificed their lives to uphold the truth, but unlike religious hatred, truth never killed anyone. The lessons we could learn, if only we desire to be apt pupils, to sit at the foot of the cross, and glean knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
Sometimes it is necessary for us to be dragged out of the city, to be cast out of the religious system in which we were raised, or the teachings we have allowed to worm into our hearts, that we may gaze into the heavens. Do not be troubled when you are cast out of the city. Do not be troubled when you begin to see hatred in the eyes of those you once called brothers, because you chose to journey deeper into the mysteries of God. Pray for those who throw stones at you, pray for those that mock you, pray for those that reject you, even such as these are used of God to sanctify your vessel.
In his final moments, the first martyr for the cause of Christ was not alone. The crowd may have screamed, blood lust being what it is, stones hurled at his defenseless body, but Stephen did not feel the stones upon his flesh, he no longer heard the ranting of the crowd, he was in the embrace of His savior.
The Son of God stood in heaven, and witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen, a means of honoring one of the first witnesses to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.
There was another present, one who did not participate in the murder of Stephen, but who consented to his death. The witnesses had laid down their clothes at his feet, and he had witnessed the entire exchange. His name was Saul.
If we perceive this tableau in spiritual terms and place Stephen and Saul facing each other, we discover one who was at his journey's end, and one who was yet to begin his journey in laboring on behalf of Christ and the cross.
Seeing Saul and Stephen side by side, we see where the grace of God found us, and how far the grace of God has brought us. In Saul we understand the condition in which God found us, and in Stephen we perceive how far His grace is able to carry us.
With every blow, with every cruelly thrown stone, the soon to be martyr was one breath closer to receiving his reward. Stephen felt this present life seeping from him the earth around him soaked in his blood, and still gazing into heaven, he prayed.
His prayer was not long, or elaborate, he did not use big words to convey the final thoughts that encompassed all he felt, and all he hoped, he said, 'Lord Jesus receive my spirit.'
Kneeling he then uttered the last words he would ever utter on this earth, with a loud voice, words that surely haunted those present for the rest of their lives on earth, 'Lord do not charge them with this sin.'
The disciple of Christ had achieved his objective. He had become like His master, loving to the last those who were responsible for his death. As the Lord prayed on the cross for those who crucified Him, so Stephen prayed for those who stoned him. In life, as in death the righteousness, meekness, and greatness of our Lord shines in all of His servants.
If we live, may we live for Christ; if we die, may we die in Christ. This is our purpose on this earth, and there is none greater. Short as his mention in the Word is, the life and death of Stephen is a lesson to us all, showing us the true meaning of faithfulness, obedience, and steadfastness.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Keep in mind this was not a crowd of uneducated brutes, the great high priest was there, as was the entire council. These were men who considered themselves deeply religious, keepers of the law. Religious as they considered themselves to be, their fury blinded them. They regressed to the point of stopping up their ears, hoping the words of Stephen would no longer make their way into their hearts. They could take no more. Their sin had been exposed, their hypocrisy revealed and now they would become the result of their actions. Envy and hate judge absent of reason, and nothing angers, and stirs the embers of hatred in deception more than the sun of truth shining down upon it.
In order to protect their religion, and religiosity, those considered most pious among the people, the religious elite, no longer had ears to hear, or hearts to understand the truth. Stripped of their cloaks of false righteousness, the zealous defenders of religion, and religious systems, to this day stone the confessors of Christ.
When they heard Stephen speaking of the heavens opening up, and especially of the Son of God, their fury was such that it kept them from taking him before the Roman authorities, from having a fair trial, or simply having a magistrate pronounce a death sentence as was customary. They dragged him out of the city and stoned him, without the illusion of due process, or trial.
Truth never killed anyone. Yes, men have been killed for the sake of truth, men have gladly sacrificed their lives to uphold the truth, but unlike religious hatred, truth never killed anyone. The lessons we could learn, if only we desire to be apt pupils, to sit at the foot of the cross, and glean knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
Sometimes it is necessary for us to be dragged out of the city, to be cast out of the religious system in which we were raised, or the teachings we have allowed to worm into our hearts, that we may gaze into the heavens. Do not be troubled when you are cast out of the city. Do not be troubled when you begin to see hatred in the eyes of those you once called brothers, because you chose to journey deeper into the mysteries of God. Pray for those who throw stones at you, pray for those that mock you, pray for those that reject you, even such as these are used of God to sanctify your vessel.
In his final moments, the first martyr for the cause of Christ was not alone. The crowd may have screamed, blood lust being what it is, stones hurled at his defenseless body, but Stephen did not feel the stones upon his flesh, he no longer heard the ranting of the crowd, he was in the embrace of His savior.
The Son of God stood in heaven, and witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen, a means of honoring one of the first witnesses to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.
There was another present, one who did not participate in the murder of Stephen, but who consented to his death. The witnesses had laid down their clothes at his feet, and he had witnessed the entire exchange. His name was Saul.
If we perceive this tableau in spiritual terms and place Stephen and Saul facing each other, we discover one who was at his journey's end, and one who was yet to begin his journey in laboring on behalf of Christ and the cross.
Seeing Saul and Stephen side by side, we see where the grace of God found us, and how far the grace of God has brought us. In Saul we understand the condition in which God found us, and in Stephen we perceive how far His grace is able to carry us.
With every blow, with every cruelly thrown stone, the soon to be martyr was one breath closer to receiving his reward. Stephen felt this present life seeping from him the earth around him soaked in his blood, and still gazing into heaven, he prayed.
His prayer was not long, or elaborate, he did not use big words to convey the final thoughts that encompassed all he felt, and all he hoped, he said, 'Lord Jesus receive my spirit.'
Kneeling he then uttered the last words he would ever utter on this earth, with a loud voice, words that surely haunted those present for the rest of their lives on earth, 'Lord do not charge them with this sin.'
The disciple of Christ had achieved his objective. He had become like His master, loving to the last those who were responsible for his death. As the Lord prayed on the cross for those who crucified Him, so Stephen prayed for those who stoned him. In life, as in death the righteousness, meekness, and greatness of our Lord shines in all of His servants.
If we live, may we live for Christ; if we die, may we die in Christ. This is our purpose on this earth, and there is none greater. Short as his mention in the Word is, the life and death of Stephen is a lesson to us all, showing us the true meaning of faithfulness, obedience, and steadfastness.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Martyr Remembered Part 1
Perhaps it's my upbringing, or the fact that my family lived under persecution for the first nine years of my life, but I've always had a great respect for those who paid the ultimate price for their faith. To give one's life for the cause of Christ is the ultimate in faithfulness and obedience, and throughout history there have been men who have done just that.
His appearance within the pages of Scripture is like a star burst lighting up the night sky. His time among the brethren was short, but when it comes to matters of relevance, substance is always more important than length of time on the scene.
He was not an apostle. By what the Word of God shares we can conclude that Stephen, the man we will be discussing today, was a Hellenist, a Jew scattered among the Greeks, as were the other six that were chosen by the leadership of the church to oversee the daily distribution of charity and benevolence.
Some students of the word believe that Stephen became a disciple of Christ upon hearing Peter's stirring oratory on the day of Pentecost. Since the Bible does not claim this however, I cannot pronounce myself on the matter. What is known of Stephen is that he was a man of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
Due to his knowledge of the Old Testament, it would seem that Stephen had been a faithful Jew before becoming a disciple of Christ. It would also seem that he was good with words, spoke with conviction, and the people were drawn to the messages he preached fearlessly and passionately.
Such was the power that Stephen possessed so persuasive were his words, that those who disputed with him could not resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. The opposition against Stephen in the synagogues grew, and since his adversaries could not refute his teaching, for it was the word of the living God, they secretly induced men to say they had heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
Those who cling to darkness will always fight against the light, and they fight dirty. Since they could not debate Stephen openly, they plotted and stirred men against him secretly.
Knowing that your only desire is to awaken people to truth makes violent opposition all the more heartbreaking. It hurts to see that by their ignorance men conspire against themselves daily. If not for the knowledge that the word will have the final say, that it will overcome the darkness of this present age, discouragement would be an easy snare to fall into.
Stephen was beyond feeling such emotion. He was the vessel that held God's holy fire, and it burned those around him when it spilled over the edge. His words burned deep within, and those who heard him were cut to the heart. They could not allow this to continue. When all else fails, heap on more accusations, perhaps something will stick. Now they began accusing Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against the synagogue, the holy place.
There is an old saying, but a true saying, that it is pointless to have suspenders when you have no pants. They holy place of which they spoke was useless to them, because they were living in sin. Their anger against Stephen blinded them to the fact that in order to silence him, they had broken one of the commandments, 'thou shall not bear false witness.'
When men attempt to defend truth with a lie, it is no longer truth, no longer worth defending.
Truth and pure intentions were hurting and undercutting the bottom line. The issue of Stephen's detractors, in point of fact, was not him, but the Christ of which he spoke, and the offerings they were losing out on.
Finally their efforts were rewarded with Stephen being brought before the council, to answer for his imagined and contrived crimes. There he stood, and all in the council, without exception, looked upon this man who was being vilified by his accusers, made to look like some draconian apparition, and all they saw was his face, as the face of an angel. All saw the truth of who Stephen was. There could be no doubt.
It is a beautiful thing to shine in the midst of the congregation of believers, but it is a miracle to shine in the midst of the beasts, to have your enemies and adversaries see the light of God shine upon your countenance. In that moment, Jesus identified with Stephan, because Stephan identified with Jesus.
Although the council had seen Stephen's countenance, although they all agreed his face was as the face of an angel, they were not affected, or deterred from their objective. Self interest, and earthly wants harden the hearts of men to such an extent, that they would readily trample upon the most profound of truth, and deny the most powerful of realities.
What follows after the inquisitor asks Stephen to respond to the accusations is the longest oration in the Bible, uttered by one of Christ's followers. A speech rooted in Scripture, spoken with conviction, not in custom or upon the traditions of men.
The oration is such that dissecting it would be a book in and of itself, and so I will reserve the study of Stephen's words for another date. His words were not conciliatory. Stephen was not attempting to appease the men before whom he was standing; he was attempting to preach the truth to them. Without regard for his safety, he concluded his inspired speech by calling the assembled crowd stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in the heart and ears, accusing them of resisting the Holy Spirit as their fathers had done. Needless to say his words stirred the crowd, in that they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Unfazed, unconcerned with the growing anger of the crowd around him, Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
In order to gaze into heaven, one must be infused with the Holy Spirit here on earth. This is the condition that must be met before mere mortals can gaze into the eternal, to behold the glory, to see what eyes of flesh cannot. When our gaze is fixed upon the heavens, we are no longer affected by what happens on earth.
The earth may shake around you, the fury of the godless may rage against you, remain calm and gaze into heaven. When you gaze beyond the shroud of this present life, when you see beyond the present, into God's eternity, peace surrounds you, joy covers you, and Christ embraces you.
A Greek philosopher once said, 'only when a man is able to ignore death, can he act freely.' Stephen was beyond fear, for him, as for Paul, to live was Christ, and to die was gain.
Tomorrow with God's help, we continue to remember Stephen, the man who gazed upon the glory, to see what more can be gleaned from this humbling servant.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
His appearance within the pages of Scripture is like a star burst lighting up the night sky. His time among the brethren was short, but when it comes to matters of relevance, substance is always more important than length of time on the scene.
He was not an apostle. By what the Word of God shares we can conclude that Stephen, the man we will be discussing today, was a Hellenist, a Jew scattered among the Greeks, as were the other six that were chosen by the leadership of the church to oversee the daily distribution of charity and benevolence.
Some students of the word believe that Stephen became a disciple of Christ upon hearing Peter's stirring oratory on the day of Pentecost. Since the Bible does not claim this however, I cannot pronounce myself on the matter. What is known of Stephen is that he was a man of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
Due to his knowledge of the Old Testament, it would seem that Stephen had been a faithful Jew before becoming a disciple of Christ. It would also seem that he was good with words, spoke with conviction, and the people were drawn to the messages he preached fearlessly and passionately.
Such was the power that Stephen possessed so persuasive were his words, that those who disputed with him could not resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. The opposition against Stephen in the synagogues grew, and since his adversaries could not refute his teaching, for it was the word of the living God, they secretly induced men to say they had heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
Those who cling to darkness will always fight against the light, and they fight dirty. Since they could not debate Stephen openly, they plotted and stirred men against him secretly.
Knowing that your only desire is to awaken people to truth makes violent opposition all the more heartbreaking. It hurts to see that by their ignorance men conspire against themselves daily. If not for the knowledge that the word will have the final say, that it will overcome the darkness of this present age, discouragement would be an easy snare to fall into.
Stephen was beyond feeling such emotion. He was the vessel that held God's holy fire, and it burned those around him when it spilled over the edge. His words burned deep within, and those who heard him were cut to the heart. They could not allow this to continue. When all else fails, heap on more accusations, perhaps something will stick. Now they began accusing Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against the synagogue, the holy place.
There is an old saying, but a true saying, that it is pointless to have suspenders when you have no pants. They holy place of which they spoke was useless to them, because they were living in sin. Their anger against Stephen blinded them to the fact that in order to silence him, they had broken one of the commandments, 'thou shall not bear false witness.'
When men attempt to defend truth with a lie, it is no longer truth, no longer worth defending.
Truth and pure intentions were hurting and undercutting the bottom line. The issue of Stephen's detractors, in point of fact, was not him, but the Christ of which he spoke, and the offerings they were losing out on.
Finally their efforts were rewarded with Stephen being brought before the council, to answer for his imagined and contrived crimes. There he stood, and all in the council, without exception, looked upon this man who was being vilified by his accusers, made to look like some draconian apparition, and all they saw was his face, as the face of an angel. All saw the truth of who Stephen was. There could be no doubt.
It is a beautiful thing to shine in the midst of the congregation of believers, but it is a miracle to shine in the midst of the beasts, to have your enemies and adversaries see the light of God shine upon your countenance. In that moment, Jesus identified with Stephan, because Stephan identified with Jesus.
Although the council had seen Stephen's countenance, although they all agreed his face was as the face of an angel, they were not affected, or deterred from their objective. Self interest, and earthly wants harden the hearts of men to such an extent, that they would readily trample upon the most profound of truth, and deny the most powerful of realities.
What follows after the inquisitor asks Stephen to respond to the accusations is the longest oration in the Bible, uttered by one of Christ's followers. A speech rooted in Scripture, spoken with conviction, not in custom or upon the traditions of men.
The oration is such that dissecting it would be a book in and of itself, and so I will reserve the study of Stephen's words for another date. His words were not conciliatory. Stephen was not attempting to appease the men before whom he was standing; he was attempting to preach the truth to them. Without regard for his safety, he concluded his inspired speech by calling the assembled crowd stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in the heart and ears, accusing them of resisting the Holy Spirit as their fathers had done. Needless to say his words stirred the crowd, in that they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Unfazed, unconcerned with the growing anger of the crowd around him, Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
In order to gaze into heaven, one must be infused with the Holy Spirit here on earth. This is the condition that must be met before mere mortals can gaze into the eternal, to behold the glory, to see what eyes of flesh cannot. When our gaze is fixed upon the heavens, we are no longer affected by what happens on earth.
The earth may shake around you, the fury of the godless may rage against you, remain calm and gaze into heaven. When you gaze beyond the shroud of this present life, when you see beyond the present, into God's eternity, peace surrounds you, joy covers you, and Christ embraces you.
A Greek philosopher once said, 'only when a man is able to ignore death, can he act freely.' Stephen was beyond fear, for him, as for Paul, to live was Christ, and to die was gain.
Tomorrow with God's help, we continue to remember Stephen, the man who gazed upon the glory, to see what more can be gleaned from this humbling servant.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
But Why?
I think my wife's addicted to 'little cuties'. They are seedless California clementines, and in the last two days she's gone through an entire box. You could probably get yourself a spare kidney in a third world country for what a box costs in Wisconsin, in the winter, but being in love for seven years makes a man do strange things, like putting off the purchase of his limited addition Dr. Grip pen, braving the elements, and going to the supermarket to get yet another box of his wife's favorite citrus fruit.
I was standing in line earlier today, box of clementines under one arm, when I began overhearing a conversation between a mother and her child. Before I begin, I must point out that I love kids. I have a niece and a nephew that I spoil every chance I get, about a hundred children that I feel responsible for in the hand of help orphanage, but there are some kids out there, that whether for lack of parenting or discipline - I will not pronounce myself on the matter until I've raised a couple of my own - are just obnoxious.
"Put on your coat," the haggard mother began speaking to her child, who in my estimation was about five years old.
"But why mommy?" he responded without moving a finger to put on his jacket.
"Because it's cold outside she answered."
"But why mommy?" the child asked again.
"Because it snowed," she answered again in a patient voice that astounded me.
"But why mommy?" the boy queried again.
"Because we live in Wisconsin."
"But why mommy?"
"Because your dad couldn't get a job in Florida."
The conversation digressed from there, I think the woman had some issues with her husband, but there is a point to this abbreviated story.
When God commands, we must obey. It is not our job to ask why, and if we do, the answer will most likely be, "because I said so!"
God does not suggest, He commands. He is not a guidance counselor, or a life coach, trying to find the positives in your life while overlooking the negatives. He is the sovereign omniscient, omnipotent, Creator of all that is, whose voice shook the heavens when He said, "be ye holy, for I am holy."
There is no getting around the fact that many today have redefined the nature of God. No, it wasn't the atheists, the agnostics, new agers, or unbelievers that have redefined His nature, but those who claim to know Him best, the preachers, the teachers, the pastors and pharisees among us.
Long forgotten are the concepts of a wrathful God, a jealous God, a righteous God, a just God, a holy God, all having been replaced by the singular more palatable and seeker friendly mantra, 'He is a loving God'. Nothing more, no other qualities necessary, he's simply a loving God.
I agree wholeheartedly, He is a loving God, but this does not mean we can reduce the nature of God to five words that fit well on a bumper sticker.
Because the righteousness and judgment of God are no longer being preached from the pulpits, most have made the impossible leap from God being a loving God, to 'since He is a loving God, there should be no fear, and even if I sin willfully, well He's loving, and even if I trample the blood of His son, He'll overlook it, because love covers all.'
There is a reason God commands His children to live up to a certain standard, and that reason is their sanctification. Without holiness, no man will see the Lord, and knowing this God commanded that we aspire, seek after, and attain holiness.
If we were to reacquaint ourselves with the authority of God, and understand that He desires the best for us, He desires to see us with Him in eternity, perhaps less of us would constantly be asking why, and simply obey God's commands.
I do not have the authority or the right to question God's commands, or His requirements concerning my life. I cannot ask why, all I can do is submit, humble myself and obey.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
I was standing in line earlier today, box of clementines under one arm, when I began overhearing a conversation between a mother and her child. Before I begin, I must point out that I love kids. I have a niece and a nephew that I spoil every chance I get, about a hundred children that I feel responsible for in the hand of help orphanage, but there are some kids out there, that whether for lack of parenting or discipline - I will not pronounce myself on the matter until I've raised a couple of my own - are just obnoxious.
"Put on your coat," the haggard mother began speaking to her child, who in my estimation was about five years old.
"But why mommy?" he responded without moving a finger to put on his jacket.
"Because it's cold outside she answered."
"But why mommy?" the child asked again.
"Because it snowed," she answered again in a patient voice that astounded me.
"But why mommy?" the boy queried again.
"Because we live in Wisconsin."
"But why mommy?"
"Because your dad couldn't get a job in Florida."
The conversation digressed from there, I think the woman had some issues with her husband, but there is a point to this abbreviated story.
When God commands, we must obey. It is not our job to ask why, and if we do, the answer will most likely be, "because I said so!"
God does not suggest, He commands. He is not a guidance counselor, or a life coach, trying to find the positives in your life while overlooking the negatives. He is the sovereign omniscient, omnipotent, Creator of all that is, whose voice shook the heavens when He said, "be ye holy, for I am holy."
There is no getting around the fact that many today have redefined the nature of God. No, it wasn't the atheists, the agnostics, new agers, or unbelievers that have redefined His nature, but those who claim to know Him best, the preachers, the teachers, the pastors and pharisees among us.
Long forgotten are the concepts of a wrathful God, a jealous God, a righteous God, a just God, a holy God, all having been replaced by the singular more palatable and seeker friendly mantra, 'He is a loving God'. Nothing more, no other qualities necessary, he's simply a loving God.
I agree wholeheartedly, He is a loving God, but this does not mean we can reduce the nature of God to five words that fit well on a bumper sticker.
Because the righteousness and judgment of God are no longer being preached from the pulpits, most have made the impossible leap from God being a loving God, to 'since He is a loving God, there should be no fear, and even if I sin willfully, well He's loving, and even if I trample the blood of His son, He'll overlook it, because love covers all.'
There is a reason God commands His children to live up to a certain standard, and that reason is their sanctification. Without holiness, no man will see the Lord, and knowing this God commanded that we aspire, seek after, and attain holiness.
If we were to reacquaint ourselves with the authority of God, and understand that He desires the best for us, He desires to see us with Him in eternity, perhaps less of us would constantly be asking why, and simply obey God's commands.
I do not have the authority or the right to question God's commands, or His requirements concerning my life. I cannot ask why, all I can do is submit, humble myself and obey.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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