One Small Seed Newsletter – Edition #252, April 2022
Greetings and Blessings in Jesus’ name:
Since this is the month that most Christians celebrate the redemption story, that will be my theme for the month. Since the gift of God for me was prophecy, my thoughts will be from that direction. Since the Greek word for Jesus is “Jehovah saves” or “Jehovah is our salvation”, this should awaken us to what God has provided for us. Why did he provide salvation for us? Because he loves his creation and wants to see them live in a holy atmosphere and he wants them to be healthy and joyful in a clean and sanctified way. He also wants us to love him with all our spirit, soul, and mind. He wants us to love the souls, spirits, and righteous minds of our neighbors. He wants us to draw nigh to him and to resist the devil and all his evil influences.
In theological terms like love, faith, peace, devotion, respect, discipline, obedience, hope, healing, prayer, sharing, or giving are not just common words that are used to define common things, but these are words that should describe a lifestyle of a Christian, who is one who believes, accepts and responds to the light and truth of the gospel. It’s not a one day a week commitment, but it is a twenty- four seven commitment. It is a process that must be worked at with all diligence, with a heart surrendering trust in the truth of God.
Remember: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (death); but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8)
Galatians 5:16-17 These two verses describe the warfare that we see in our lives everyday all around the world and even in our homes. Paul said, in paraphrase form: walk in the will of the spirit and you will not fulfill the lustful desires of the flesh, because the flesh or the carnal nature doesn’t want the will of the Holy Spirit to boss him around and the Spirit of God doesn’t want us to allow the will of the flesh to boss us around either. These are an example of the challenges we face. But God gave us more grace through the power of his Spirit to outsmart the devil.
If the world had Christ in their hearts we would be at peace. In fact this is the only way that peace can be stable, by having the Holy Spirit in each heart. But there is very little love in the hearts of a lot of people, even in our own country. I’m not making that up, because I watch the news broadcast every day. But I’m also aware that there are millions of Christians and millions of people who have a high moral character and those who are shamed, defrauded, and taken advantage of, all over the world.
As a Christian for sixty-five years, a husband for fifty-five years, a veteran since nineteen sixty-three, a dad for forty-eight years and a teacher in the church for forty-three years, in my opinion, I think it’s time to right the ship.
Jesus said in John 8:32 “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. The idea wasn’t to inform them that all of their actions, throughout all their life, would come face to face with them when they died. Then the consequences would be declared and they would face eternity dealing with these consequences. Jesus was saying, The Truth (which was him) will make you free, if you come to him with open heart and with open mind. We don’t need to learn by consequences that happen to us, but we should learn by consequences that happen to others or have happened to others. If we want to be wise, we should listen intently to the teaching of wise people, like: Solomon, the Apostles, Ben Franklin and my Dad. The wisest teacher, who has all knowledge is the Word of God, which means he is the offspring of God.’
The Word of God said that he came into the world to save sinners, or those who trespass laws of every sort, those who have no faith in a miracle working God and those who choose to rebel against righteous judgments. These are the people who have no love for themselves, God or their neighbors. In spite of all reactions, God has no hate for anyone and he is longsuffering with everyone, but he gives us the right and authority to choose the direction in which to travel. The choices are: His Way or our way.
Jesus said, (As the Word of God) I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me. The way to life is truth (light) and love: Truth is companioned with grace and grace softens the sharpness of truth but doesn’t come in disagreement to truth. Love is surrounded with all the Fruit of the Holy Spirit which are: joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Now that’s the road I like to travel on. Within the framework of his duty to his Father, Christ made a place for all souls to share equally and graciously. All the church needs to do is keep the house clean and undefiled by the evil elements of this world. This is also the responsibilities of American citizens to do for America, keep the house clean and undefiled by evils of those who want to tear the house down.
May God help us and save us from the enemies of our souls. Amen.
Your friend in Christ,
Rodney Roberts