No More Tally Marks

 

Welcome to the refreshing way of life with Jesus. His sacrifice fulfilled the Law, creating a new life with no overpowering rules. Jesus is the way to life, you must believe and have faith in Him to be saved, and once saved, live your life loving your God and others. 

With Him we can look beyond this world to the Heavenly things. To get everyone’s eyes off these crazy times and find peace from the Lord as it says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” There is hope and peace in Jesus. “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Mark 5:36b Christ has turned a burden of the old testament life to a blessing with freedom and peace in Jesus! He didn’t come to tally people with the Law, but came to fulfill the Law and bring peace and life to those who believe in Him, thank you Jesus!

Christ the Gardener

Photo of Kathy’s watermelon.

As I was watching my freshly planted watermelon and cantaloupe grow in the garden, I realized they thrived because of proper soil nourishment and care provided by my dad. This garden was not left up for chance, some birds didn’t fly aimlessly and plant the seeds in some ground that was “tilled” by dogs digging holes, but in prepared dirt which would nourish the seeds. If it was all left to luck, the seeds would fall on barren land and never have an opportunity to grow. Mark 4:4 says, “as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.” Just like our walks with Christ, we need to nourish our soil so our seeds can grow. 

Sure, we could plant seeds but if we don’t have our eyes focused on Christ, read our Bibles, and keep on walking with Him, we can easily hit a rock beneath us as these plants do and not able to exhibit growth as it says in Mark 4:5 “some seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth or soil.” This could pop up in our own lives if we’re not careful. People say, “well, I read my Bible and go to church every Sunday, but all these bad or hard things happened to me. I’m tired of this, so no more.”  Make sure you are truly planted in God’s garden. 

True Christians are sown in Christ. Mark 4:20 “Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produced a crop-some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” Grow slow, grow deep, grows tall. In our zeal we may grow quick, but in that fastness you never developed deep roots in God, and at the first sign of wind you collapse. The plant dies off and never grows a watermelon. Be the seed that germinates, grows rich roots, and bears copious amounts of melons. Others will see the fruit of your actions, and you’ll be the water to their soil. Grow slow and steady in the Lord, mature, be strong in the Lord, and if you fall, it’s ok, God will prop you up with a bamboo stick, tie you to it, and lovingly help you grow strong.

Jesus’ Flame Spreads From One to Another

When a dog shows an act of love, it’s not that surprising. But when a cat does, that’s noteworthy!

Loving someone because they are nice to you is not that big of an accomplishment, but showing love to a rude person is truly an act of kindness. In this life we are encouraged as believers to live with Jesus’ characteristics, such as loving your enemies. As Luke 6:27 says, “But to those who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” The first action of living in love evolves to showing mercy, for we too need mercy. Luke 6:36 says, “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.” We obtain this capability by listening to the Lord’s encouragement and reading His Word, then put it into action. While living in love we produce: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit! 

These actions spread one flame to another because they work together logically. Once you love someone it promotes you to exhibit mercy to them, therefore, doing one encourages the other, they mesh. Love pushes mercy. This only happens by trusting Jesus. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his Compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” Living like Jesus is the way to go. When we are filled with God’s love, we are more frequently turning to God’s choices which cultivates in us a display of God’s nature, which in turn means showing others love and mercy rather than choosing our own emotions. 

A dog will always show love, but it’s truly monumental when a cat is loving and merciful to its owner.