"Some time later God tested Abraham." Gen. 22:1
The foundation of Faith is trust in God. It is not that we claim to always understand the ways of God because we cannot make such an absurd claim. This word 'Faith' is not found in the Old Testament Literature. It was imposed upon the Old Testament Writings by well meaning translators. Please don't misunderstand me because the Old Testament does speak of 'Faith' but not in the western tradition of a lexical definition.
In the Old Testament Literature 'Faith' is activity. That is, Faith is demonstrated by what one does, and not by what one says. Actions are primary in the Old Testament. Actions reveal character or the essence of who people really are under pressure or otherwise. The above statement is about a relationship that has a mature foundation.
God has cultivated the faith-activity of Abraham and brought him to this point. God knew that the faith-activity of Abraham was ready for this crisis. God was going to break up the foundation of the current relationship with Abraham, or so it would seem to observers.
God was not breaking up the old, he was revealing the new relationship that he possessed with Abraham. Indeed, the change of his name from Abram to Abraham bespoke of a new relationship with God. God is always serious about those who fight the good fight of faith. God tested Abraham.
In this verse God is the grammatical subject and Abraham is the object of the verb 'tested' as we too are tested by God, but not in the way that Abraham was tested. The verb 'tested' indicates intentional or intensive action. This event in Abraham's testing was to create a rent within the very fabric of his faith walk. It was to indicate a new destiny and therefore a decisively new walk with God.
It is interesting that Abraham's test is about love. In the following verses love is balanced by sacrifice. Love is always about sacrifice. Herein is the real definition of love. What one is willing to place upon the altar of complete surrender. Love and sacrifice are powerful realities. Abraham was given the gift of Isaac by God, and now Abraham is required to give back his gift of Isaac to God.
Just as Love and Sacrifice are powerful realities so are Love and Unselfishness. Abraham did not test God by interrogating Him. There is no fear between Abraham and his relationship with God. Again, this is the test of a mature believer. Abraham had conquered fear in his soul through a lifetime of trust in God. Abraham had come to know God. This type of awareness is only derived by constancy and devotion to God. Abraham is revealing to the world that though he walked in time he was not bound by the constraints of time.
Abraham is free. Both God and Abraham are free. The freedom of God is qualitatively unlike the freedom of Abraham. The freedom of God is related to his essence, and for us it means "who can say what doest thou?" But the freedom of Abraham is the freedom to positively respond to the divine will. As we respond to God our freedom increases in God. We come to know what it means to be in the world but not out of the world as a source.
The most precious is gift is asked of Abraham. God asks for Isaac. Abraham is willing to give the gift back to the Giver without question. Thy will be done is Abraham's desire. Abraham is taken up into the divine will. He is spiritually suspended between heaven and earth. Abraham's knowledge of God is not brokered by a third party. It is an immediate and direct encounter with the irresistible will of God.
Isaac was given to God by Abraham, and Isaac was given back to Abraham in a new way. Herein is the power of resurrection. God's summon to Abraham was to rise out of the ordinary to become extraordinary. Abraham's story for us is a timeless message to repent of the well cultivated road and and take the extraordinary road of trust in God. Notice, that the way of trust in God leads to the cross of Calvary and God's extraordinary gift of Iesous.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry please follow this blog and visit his website.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Victory Over The Sin of Envy
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning...When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me-Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." Psalm 73:17
The words of the Poet are timeless and timely because they capture a powerful struggle. Real godliness is never easy. In this world there are endless distractions and pseudo-roads that seem to offer more satisfaction but alas they lead into treachery and harassment.
The poet had taken one such road and found himself smarting because of self-induced misery. The Poet would come to intimately know the perilous seduction of envy. We ourselves may envy the beauty of a woman or man, the wealth of another, the education or advantage of another, or the friends or power of another.
Envy is not jealousy. Jealousy is the feeble cousin of envy. Jealousy is merely obsessed with being replaced by its object, but envy wants to possess, replace, and seek to harm its object. Envy is insatiable.
The poet had manufactured self-induced misery because he had acquired mental attitude sin. He stopped abiding in God and his peace that passes all understanding, and became infected by mental attitude that produced the vile sin of envy.
The poet was in for a rough ride upon the seas of discontent. He had believed that he could understand the 'world' apart from God. He had come to believe that the cult of the self as practiced by the those embedded within the fragmented constructs if the 'world' offered more than what he possessed in God.
Is this not the desire of the Enemy? Is this not the work of the Devil (Lit. "One who Divides"), to foment discontent within the breast of the child of God? How often we find ourselves enslaved by what our eyes perceive and we come to forget the prosperity of our souls in the Iesous. In the book of Judges in the Old Testament Literature the Samson champion was led astray by what he 'saw.' The enemy of Samson's soul was within not 'out there.' His vision of life became fatalistic because of poor seeing as with the Poet in this telling psalm.
He was mired in subjectivism and the lie of envy. He could not extricate himself of this sin. Not one of us can extricate himself from sin. Some, however, may believe that they are immune to such sin, but that is their sin. It is a self molesting type of deal. One can become addicted to self molestation. The poet had become addicted to being his own adversary!
One might think that these are hard words, and I would agree, but look how far the Poet had wondered from God. He could no longer worship the true God because he is confused by the cult of the selfish eye. Envy had stained and cut off his ability to worship and find contentment. He has lost more than he had gained by the poisoned orbs (eyes) within his head that have invited him to drink bitter water. He does not like the wicked, and nor does he like himself.
What a price is extracted from ourselves when we practice sin. God did not abandon the Poet, but the Poet abandoned himself. However, he will learn the heavy price of the pretending as though God was not there. This is the illusion that one can extract God from the world and yet have a complete perception of the world. The poet believed that the rich had no troubles and that from cradle to grave all was well. The Poet mused within his skewed and darkened perception concerning the wicked"...they have more than heart could wish (v.7b)." The Poet's heart is weakened by false perceptions. He bears deep wounds.
He regrets the practice of godliness."Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence (v. 13)." He is hurt, and wounded. Yes, there are times when one is tempted to embrace this belief, but God has been in his life, and allowed the Poet to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That is, the valley of shaken faith.
Have you been tempted of late to remove yourself from the watchful care of God because of envy of the wicked ones? Have you been tempted to surrender true faith and exchange it for the watchful mischief of the eye?
Beloved, all of us are tempted at some point. The Poet found himself floundering until he went back to God. It was only when he went back to God that he discovered a compelling truth. He discovered that the way of the ungodly will perish. He learned that he really had 'it all' but it had been obscured by the lie of the selfish eye.
Beloved the Word of God is our 'medicine' and the Word of God has cleansed many eyes with the eye salve of redemption through the Iesous. He is our Great Physician and Wonderful Counsellor.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
The words of the Poet are timeless and timely because they capture a powerful struggle. Real godliness is never easy. In this world there are endless distractions and pseudo-roads that seem to offer more satisfaction but alas they lead into treachery and harassment.
The poet had taken one such road and found himself smarting because of self-induced misery. The Poet would come to intimately know the perilous seduction of envy. We ourselves may envy the beauty of a woman or man, the wealth of another, the education or advantage of another, or the friends or power of another.
Envy is not jealousy. Jealousy is the feeble cousin of envy. Jealousy is merely obsessed with being replaced by its object, but envy wants to possess, replace, and seek to harm its object. Envy is insatiable.
The poet had manufactured self-induced misery because he had acquired mental attitude sin. He stopped abiding in God and his peace that passes all understanding, and became infected by mental attitude that produced the vile sin of envy.
The poet was in for a rough ride upon the seas of discontent. He had believed that he could understand the 'world' apart from God. He had come to believe that the cult of the self as practiced by the those embedded within the fragmented constructs if the 'world' offered more than what he possessed in God.
Is this not the desire of the Enemy? Is this not the work of the Devil (Lit. "One who Divides"), to foment discontent within the breast of the child of God? How often we find ourselves enslaved by what our eyes perceive and we come to forget the prosperity of our souls in the Iesous. In the book of Judges in the Old Testament Literature the Samson champion was led astray by what he 'saw.' The enemy of Samson's soul was within not 'out there.' His vision of life became fatalistic because of poor seeing as with the Poet in this telling psalm.
He was mired in subjectivism and the lie of envy. He could not extricate himself of this sin. Not one of us can extricate himself from sin. Some, however, may believe that they are immune to such sin, but that is their sin. It is a self molesting type of deal. One can become addicted to self molestation. The poet had become addicted to being his own adversary!
One might think that these are hard words, and I would agree, but look how far the Poet had wondered from God. He could no longer worship the true God because he is confused by the cult of the selfish eye. Envy had stained and cut off his ability to worship and find contentment. He has lost more than he had gained by the poisoned orbs (eyes) within his head that have invited him to drink bitter water. He does not like the wicked, and nor does he like himself.
What a price is extracted from ourselves when we practice sin. God did not abandon the Poet, but the Poet abandoned himself. However, he will learn the heavy price of the pretending as though God was not there. This is the illusion that one can extract God from the world and yet have a complete perception of the world. The poet believed that the rich had no troubles and that from cradle to grave all was well. The Poet mused within his skewed and darkened perception concerning the wicked"...they have more than heart could wish (v.7b)." The Poet's heart is weakened by false perceptions. He bears deep wounds.
He regrets the practice of godliness."Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence (v. 13)." He is hurt, and wounded. Yes, there are times when one is tempted to embrace this belief, but God has been in his life, and allowed the Poet to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That is, the valley of shaken faith.
Have you been tempted of late to remove yourself from the watchful care of God because of envy of the wicked ones? Have you been tempted to surrender true faith and exchange it for the watchful mischief of the eye?
Beloved, all of us are tempted at some point. The Poet found himself floundering until he went back to God. It was only when he went back to God that he discovered a compelling truth. He discovered that the way of the ungodly will perish. He learned that he really had 'it all' but it had been obscured by the lie of the selfish eye.
Beloved the Word of God is our 'medicine' and the Word of God has cleansed many eyes with the eye salve of redemption through the Iesous. He is our Great Physician and Wonderful Counsellor.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
Friday, May 17, 2013
You Are Valued By God
"The LORD formed man (Adam) of the dust of the ground (Adamah), and man (Adam) became a living being." Gen. 2:7
I am aware of the various interpretations that have been assigned to this portion of the Genesis materials. I am also aware of the sources of the Genesis material and the cultures that influenced and contributed to their formation. What is even more impressive is that in spite of the criticism that has been directed toward this portion of the Genesis materials their literary integrity remain uncompromised. The verse that is given above has been particularly assaulted because it braves a world-view that some long to overthrow.
The intrinsic teleology (purpose) of the passage is direct and compelling. The LORD God is the subject of the verse without question. We are informed by the philosopher-poet that the creative activity of God extended to man (Adam).
Man is inherently related to the biosphere. Man arose from the biosphere through the creative action of God. The account of Man's creation is unique in ancient religious literature. Man is not the creation of irrational and capricious gods. On the contrary, he is the result of the loving creative activity of God. Man was created in the image (shadow) and likeness (shadow) of the Lord.
The source material for the creation of man was the chemical elements of the biosphere. It is now old knowledge that the chemical properties of the earth are found within the unique biology of man. The DNA chemical ladder within man is also found in the DNA of the other creatures of the biosphere. Man is unique because he was given a spiritual dimension too. Man is, therefore, inherently spiritual.
God breathed into his face the breath of lives. This is radical and weighs the passage with the irreducible importance of human life. Man was created by the direct activity of God. Man is significant because of his origin.
God gives his name to the creation of man. This is a powerful revelation and substantively illustrates the relationship that Man is to have with the Creator. God never defends or denies his relationship to Man even when he is rejected by Man.
God created Man for a purpose. Man is to have a meaningful relationship with the Creator. Man was fashioned by Elohim to possess the ability to know God in a manner that satiates his existence. This is what is missing today. People are unfulfilled. They sublimate distractions full of discontent that cannot satisfy.
God wants to be in a meaningful relationship with you. He has sent the Iesous as evidence of his desire. To believe the Word of God requires faith on your part. You must come to God and accept his Word that you are the object of his Grace.
You may feel diminished and devalued because of some terrible experience, but know that God is in the business of giving you a living purpose. You are not merely a list of numeric symbols that catalogue your activities from cradle to grave. You are not merely a list of symptoms that render you dysfunctional.
You are valued by God. Claim his love for you today through the Iesous who loved you and gave his life for you.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
I am aware of the various interpretations that have been assigned to this portion of the Genesis materials. I am also aware of the sources of the Genesis material and the cultures that influenced and contributed to their formation. What is even more impressive is that in spite of the criticism that has been directed toward this portion of the Genesis materials their literary integrity remain uncompromised. The verse that is given above has been particularly assaulted because it braves a world-view that some long to overthrow.
The intrinsic teleology (purpose) of the passage is direct and compelling. The LORD God is the subject of the verse without question. We are informed by the philosopher-poet that the creative activity of God extended to man (Adam).
Man is inherently related to the biosphere. Man arose from the biosphere through the creative action of God. The account of Man's creation is unique in ancient religious literature. Man is not the creation of irrational and capricious gods. On the contrary, he is the result of the loving creative activity of God. Man was created in the image (shadow) and likeness (shadow) of the Lord.
The source material for the creation of man was the chemical elements of the biosphere. It is now old knowledge that the chemical properties of the earth are found within the unique biology of man. The DNA chemical ladder within man is also found in the DNA of the other creatures of the biosphere. Man is unique because he was given a spiritual dimension too. Man is, therefore, inherently spiritual.
God breathed into his face the breath of lives. This is radical and weighs the passage with the irreducible importance of human life. Man was created by the direct activity of God. Man is significant because of his origin.
God gives his name to the creation of man. This is a powerful revelation and substantively illustrates the relationship that Man is to have with the Creator. God never defends or denies his relationship to Man even when he is rejected by Man.
God created Man for a purpose. Man is to have a meaningful relationship with the Creator. Man was fashioned by Elohim to possess the ability to know God in a manner that satiates his existence. This is what is missing today. People are unfulfilled. They sublimate distractions full of discontent that cannot satisfy.
God wants to be in a meaningful relationship with you. He has sent the Iesous as evidence of his desire. To believe the Word of God requires faith on your part. You must come to God and accept his Word that you are the object of his Grace.
You may feel diminished and devalued because of some terrible experience, but know that God is in the business of giving you a living purpose. You are not merely a list of numeric symbols that catalogue your activities from cradle to grave. You are not merely a list of symptoms that render you dysfunctional.
You are valued by God. Claim his love for you today through the Iesous who loved you and gave his life for you.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
When the Flood Threatens the Soul
"The LORD sat enthroned at the flood, and the LORD will bless His people with peace." Psalms 29:10
There are those for whom life is tough at times, and then there are those for whom life is chronically tough. I constantly meet and currently know many of whom this is true. These people come from all walks of life, and every profession. Many of these people carry old burdens and ancient conflicts with others and with themselves. Somehow, in-spite of disarming hurt and psychic pain they 'manage' to carry on and continue to brave the seemingly fortuitous circumstances of life.
Self-management of ancient and current pain comes at a great price. Consciously one may feel that everything is going ok, but one is living in a rut. A rut of anxiety, depression, anger, and or shame with the focus on the external causes of one's inner pain. The psychic price of this self-management of hurt runs the gamut of symptomatic behaviors. At times the reality of one's current state may come crashing down upon one's well fortified psychic wall without apology.
Then times are hard and life is tough. Circumstances may enter into one's life in a manner that insists upon one's sole attention. One's greatest resolve to be strong in the face of oppressive and disconcerting trails may flee before the emotional onslaught of the howling storm. At this time one may certainly wonder "How did it come to this?" The executive part of the brain that includes the rational cortex may be exhausted and cannot offer a reasonable algorithm for one assaulting circumstances.
The poet of Psalm 29 knew that life can hurl seemingly irrational and bewildering trials into one's life. So much so that one may seem to be drowning from the relentless crashing of the waves against the soul. The poet knew that the battle was not his to fight. He knew that the battles in life belonged to the Yahweh or 'The Existing One.' The poet knew the Flood (Mabbuwl) narrative recorded in the Genesis document. He knew that though the land mass had been subjected to violent upheaval from the compromise of the tectonic plates beneath the Yahweh was in control.
The poet knew that though the world disappeared (de-creation) beneath the immeasurable metric tons of water and the unimaginable the Yahweh was in control. In de-creation life evaporated once again into primordial emptiness. The wasteland reappeared and the Yahweh sat enthroned upon the flood. The Yahweh is enthroned upon de-creation and he is enthroned upon creation. His throne is forever. His rule is never compromised by the acts of man.
The Yahweh is enthroned forever upon the flood. His rule over my life provides peace when the chaos of circumstance threaten to submerge me beneath the crashing waves. Do you feel life being threatened today by tenacious circumstances? Do you feel yourself harassed by overwhelming problems? You must tell the Yahweh all about where you are. Take words with you, and confess to feeling overwhelmed by life, and ask for him to rule over the flood.
The Iesous is meek and lowly in heart and he will give you rest in your soul. Go to him right now, and ask him to reverse the feeling of de-creation that threatens you. You must be ever so serious about this request. You must be ready to give your dissolving life over to Him. Do not let empty existential hubris (pride) keep you from a brand new life outside of the flood.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
There are those for whom life is tough at times, and then there are those for whom life is chronically tough. I constantly meet and currently know many of whom this is true. These people come from all walks of life, and every profession. Many of these people carry old burdens and ancient conflicts with others and with themselves. Somehow, in-spite of disarming hurt and psychic pain they 'manage' to carry on and continue to brave the seemingly fortuitous circumstances of life.
Self-management of ancient and current pain comes at a great price. Consciously one may feel that everything is going ok, but one is living in a rut. A rut of anxiety, depression, anger, and or shame with the focus on the external causes of one's inner pain. The psychic price of this self-management of hurt runs the gamut of symptomatic behaviors. At times the reality of one's current state may come crashing down upon one's well fortified psychic wall without apology.
Then times are hard and life is tough. Circumstances may enter into one's life in a manner that insists upon one's sole attention. One's greatest resolve to be strong in the face of oppressive and disconcerting trails may flee before the emotional onslaught of the howling storm. At this time one may certainly wonder "How did it come to this?" The executive part of the brain that includes the rational cortex may be exhausted and cannot offer a reasonable algorithm for one assaulting circumstances.
The poet of Psalm 29 knew that life can hurl seemingly irrational and bewildering trials into one's life. So much so that one may seem to be drowning from the relentless crashing of the waves against the soul. The poet knew that the battle was not his to fight. He knew that the battles in life belonged to the Yahweh or 'The Existing One.' The poet knew the Flood (Mabbuwl) narrative recorded in the Genesis document. He knew that though the land mass had been subjected to violent upheaval from the compromise of the tectonic plates beneath the Yahweh was in control.
The poet knew that though the world disappeared (de-creation) beneath the immeasurable metric tons of water and the unimaginable the Yahweh was in control. In de-creation life evaporated once again into primordial emptiness. The wasteland reappeared and the Yahweh sat enthroned upon the flood. The Yahweh is enthroned upon de-creation and he is enthroned upon creation. His throne is forever. His rule is never compromised by the acts of man.
The Yahweh is enthroned forever upon the flood. His rule over my life provides peace when the chaos of circumstance threaten to submerge me beneath the crashing waves. Do you feel life being threatened today by tenacious circumstances? Do you feel yourself harassed by overwhelming problems? You must tell the Yahweh all about where you are. Take words with you, and confess to feeling overwhelmed by life, and ask for him to rule over the flood.
The Iesous is meek and lowly in heart and he will give you rest in your soul. Go to him right now, and ask him to reverse the feeling of de-creation that threatens you. You must be ever so serious about this request. You must be ready to give your dissolving life over to Him. Do not let empty existential hubris (pride) keep you from a brand new life outside of the flood.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow this blog and visit his website.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
God's Redemptive Care
"Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the Grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and many become defiled." Hebrews 12:15
A very careful following of the Word of God is here enjoined. It is not enough to have a smattering of Truth and expect the blessing of God. There is specific instruction given by the writer-theologian. It is the ministry of 'looking carefully' so that no one falls short of the Grace of God.
What does that mean? The context of the verse gives the answer. The chapter is filled with powerful teachings about spiritual discipline from God for our good. Spiritual discipline represents God's redemptive care in my life.
The writer is speaking from the position of one who has come through a great deal of divine discipline. He knows intimately whereof he speaks. Divine discipline is the method whereby God instructs those who are His through providentially provided suffering. The suffering that God graciously ministers to His own is designed to encourage us to move toward Him and to quit the darkness within ourselves and extant in the world. Spiritual suffering represents God's redemptive care in my life.
This is a blessing for you and me. To often we seek to explain pain and suffering with weak and obfuscating platitudes. As you well know platitudes do not edify the wounded heart. Platitudes are stale reminders that the novelty of my suffering bears no likeness to anything else within my accumulated years of experience. God creates novel modes of suffering to stretch by faith. He is the Author of our faith-process and our faith-growth. He knows us substantially more than we know ourselves.
Therefore, we do not want to come short of Grace which means to live within the obscurity of the self instead of the light of God. It is to allow the riot of wilfulness to win over my relationship with the Iesous. It is chronic self-abandonment and self-betrayal that has as its source failure to follow God.
This failure results in an intrinsic spiritual crisis. The end result of which may become a 'root of bitterness.' The word 'bitterness' is a Greek Word that means 'poison.' Warning about bitterness represents God's redemptive care in my life.
Spiritual poison creates misery within the soul of the person. It may create a root of poison. Bitterness may embed itself within the personality and create very painful self-harassment that contaminates interpersonal relationships too. There is no part of life that is not touched by the smarting root of bitterness. To fall short of the Grace of God is a serious matter.
Severe cognitive and spiritual impairment due to a root of bitterness un-stabilizes the life of the individual. God does not desire to see the life of anyone destabilized by bitterness over what someone did to you or I in the past. God wants for you and me to look steadfastly upon the person of the Iesou and deeply consider what he suffered on our behalf.
To look upon the person of the Iesou means that I have come to the place where I know that my healing can only come from God. Dwelling upon the person of Iesou is my ultimate medication. He takes away the poison of what has been done to me through others and what I have done to myself and others too. This means that my confessions to God must be powerfully honest. I must risk seeing myself daily as one in need of God's redemptive care.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow his blog and visit his website.
A very careful following of the Word of God is here enjoined. It is not enough to have a smattering of Truth and expect the blessing of God. There is specific instruction given by the writer-theologian. It is the ministry of 'looking carefully' so that no one falls short of the Grace of God.
What does that mean? The context of the verse gives the answer. The chapter is filled with powerful teachings about spiritual discipline from God for our good. Spiritual discipline represents God's redemptive care in my life.
The writer is speaking from the position of one who has come through a great deal of divine discipline. He knows intimately whereof he speaks. Divine discipline is the method whereby God instructs those who are His through providentially provided suffering. The suffering that God graciously ministers to His own is designed to encourage us to move toward Him and to quit the darkness within ourselves and extant in the world. Spiritual suffering represents God's redemptive care in my life.
This is a blessing for you and me. To often we seek to explain pain and suffering with weak and obfuscating platitudes. As you well know platitudes do not edify the wounded heart. Platitudes are stale reminders that the novelty of my suffering bears no likeness to anything else within my accumulated years of experience. God creates novel modes of suffering to stretch by faith. He is the Author of our faith-process and our faith-growth. He knows us substantially more than we know ourselves.
Therefore, we do not want to come short of Grace which means to live within the obscurity of the self instead of the light of God. It is to allow the riot of wilfulness to win over my relationship with the Iesous. It is chronic self-abandonment and self-betrayal that has as its source failure to follow God.
This failure results in an intrinsic spiritual crisis. The end result of which may become a 'root of bitterness.' The word 'bitterness' is a Greek Word that means 'poison.' Warning about bitterness represents God's redemptive care in my life.
Spiritual poison creates misery within the soul of the person. It may create a root of poison. Bitterness may embed itself within the personality and create very painful self-harassment that contaminates interpersonal relationships too. There is no part of life that is not touched by the smarting root of bitterness. To fall short of the Grace of God is a serious matter.
Severe cognitive and spiritual impairment due to a root of bitterness un-stabilizes the life of the individual. God does not desire to see the life of anyone destabilized by bitterness over what someone did to you or I in the past. God wants for you and me to look steadfastly upon the person of the Iesou and deeply consider what he suffered on our behalf.
To look upon the person of the Iesou means that I have come to the place where I know that my healing can only come from God. Dwelling upon the person of Iesou is my ultimate medication. He takes away the poison of what has been done to me through others and what I have done to myself and others too. This means that my confessions to God must be powerfully honest. I must risk seeing myself daily as one in need of God's redemptive care.
Blessings to you.
For more information about Dr. Rich and his teaching ministry, please follow his blog and visit his website.
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