NOT THE WAY BUT THE END!

 

Friday, June 5, 2026

 

NOT THE WAY BUT THE END!

 

Matt 7:13-14

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

          Charles Spurgeon quotes the ancient Chrysostom who says, “the way is good if it is the way to a feast, even though it goes through a dark and miry lane. If it goes to an execution, it is not good, even though it goes through the fairest street of the city.” Non qua sed quo. Not the way but the end is to be mainly considered.

 

          When God created man, He gave him a wonderful and horrible gift. It is the gift of choice. It is wonderful because of the limitless opportunities, and it is horrible for the same reason. We choose not so much because the way is well paved or well lit. We choose because of the destination. Our choices reveal our nature.

 

Our destiny is not determined for us, but it is determined by us. Man's free will is part of God's sovereign will. We have freedom to take which course we choose, but not freedom to determine the end of that choice. God makes clear what he desires, we must choose, and the result of the choice is not the inevitableness of law, but the inevitableness of God. -- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

 

          Jesus said the gate was strait. The word does not mean that there are no twists or turns but that the entrance is small and exclusive. If Jesus is the “way” then all other ways lead to a different destination. The way that leads to destruction is wide; not exclusive at all. The most damning concept ever proposed is that all roads lead to the same place. This is clearly not true. Choose your gate and your way wisely.

 

Dear Lord, let me not choose my way blindly. Take me by my hand and whisper in my ear “this is the way, walk ye in it.” AMEN

 

SHOULD!

 

Thursday, June 4, 2026

 

SHOULD!

 

1 Peter 2:9

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

          Yesterday we explained that “peculiar” doesn’t mean weird but actually means “purchased.” It has to do with acquisition and saving; to buy and to keep.

 

          Being bought and adopted by Father God through the sacrifice of His son, we are now a royal priesthood. Once we were unholy but now, we are made holy both by cleansing and by relationship. But it’s not only about us. As priests, we have been given responsibilities.

 

          We SHOULD show forth His praises to others. One Greek word actually translates a whole phrase. “ye should shew” is the Greek exaggello (ex-ang-el'-lo) and it means “to publish; to celebrate; to buy up and to rescue from loss. The word angel or messenger is hidden in that strange word.

 

          We haven’t been rescued only to enjoy but to engage! We SHOULD engage those who now are as we once were.

 

Dear Lord, let me pause a moment in my praise to share what I SHOULD. Amen

 

AN ANSWER TO THE LAW-GRACE FIGHT

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

 

AN ANSWER TO THE LAW-GRACE FIGHT

 

1 Peter 2:9

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

          Paul warned that the last days would be marked by a gross misunderstanding of what is or should be normal behavior. By normal, I am referring to behavior that grows from a relationship with and allegiance to the truth. Deviant behavior is the result of abandoning or altering truth.

 

Rom 1:18

18 For God's [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.

AMP

 

          It’s the false teaching of Antinomianism that teaches since faith alone is necessary for salvation, one is free from the moral obligations of the law.

 

          Typically, Antinomianism considers that law and freedom are opposed, that law is a restrictive mechanism, a product of civilization and therefore opposed to the free exercise of natural [animal] instincts. The New Testament declares that this distaste for law will lead, not to the promised freedom, but to slavery (2 Pet. 2:19).

 

          The word “peculiar,” in 1 Peter 2:9 is the Greek peripoiesis (per-ee-poy'-ay-sis) which actually means “purchased.” It has to do with acquisition and saving; to buy and to keep. The idea is that Jesus has purchased us with His own blood and intends to keep us because he deems us valuable.

 

          If the word “hold” in Romans 1:18 means to “retain” then the rest of the verse means to retain for a future time of difficulty. That is what too many try to do. They know that they will one day give an account and they “hold” the truth as a “get out of jail free” card. But if the word “hold” means to “hinder the truth and make it inoperative” we see a society exactly like the one we now see. Religion is wrapped around ourselves as the center. Rules confirm our behavior and never challenge us. The result is slavery to our desires.

 

Dear Lord, let me acknowledge Thy Law and obey it. Thank you for purchasing and preserving me. AMEN