Ed Christian's World

The Immanuel Solution…

In Romans 8, Paul writes this: “For what the law could not do…God did by sending His own Son… in order that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”

In this is a secret. The law testified of a righteousness, a requirement, a lack, a debt, and an absence it couldn’t fulfill. But what fulfilled it? The sending forth of the presence of God. What the law could not do…God did by sending His Son.

The answer never comes by dwelling on the problem or from what isn’t there or from what isn’t right. The answer comes by the presence of God coming into the problem.

The answer to hate is not to hate back, but to love with the presence of God. The answer to what is wrong and evil is not to react to what is evil, but to all the more react with good.

The answer to sin isn’t to dwell on sin, but to fill yourself up with God. For what the law could not do… God, and only God, did and still does.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Roman’s 12:21

Today, solve the problems around you, or within you, not by dwelling on them, but by filling up with the presence of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Throwing A Wrench…

During WWII, the Japanese would broadcast the words of “Tokyo Rose” to throw a wrench in the morale of the Allied Forces.

During the Cold War, the “Voice of America” broadcasted ideas of freedom and samples of western culture to those living under communist regimes. Throwing wrenches into the works of the enemy’s kingdom is a strategy of warfare and revolution.

In the same way, we are at war. There is an enemy kingdom – the kingdom of darkness, sin, and bondage. But you are of the Kingdom of God and of His Light. It’s your job to throw wrenches into the enemy’s kingdom. How?

Where there is a law of hate operating, broadcast the love of God. Where there is depression, despair, and gloom, throw in words of encouragement and hope. Where there’s bondage and oppression, take actions of deliverance and freedom.

Where there are offenses and woundings, confound them with true forgiveness and healing. Make a difference today. Throw a wrench into the works of the enemy.

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. Acts 19:8

Today, see how many wrenches you can throw into the enemy’s works. Shine the light into the darkness, and overthrow the laws of sin and death.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Bible mysteries…

Genesis 22 gives the account of Abraham offering up his son Isaac: The father takes the son on a donkey into the land of Moriah. He places the sacrificial wood on his son’s shoulders and leads him up the mountain.

There on the mountaintop, he binds his son to the wood, lays him on the altar, and prepares to offer him up as a sacrificial lamb. This scene is an awesome foreshadow of the sacrifice of the Son by the Father on sacrificial wood on Mount Moriah (Jerusalem).

There’s an amazing Jewish writing on the offering of Isaac called Pesikta Rab 54A, where it says this: ‘Isaac carried the wood as a man who takes up his cross…’ Even the writings testify of a son who takes up wood like a cross to his sacrificial death.

Genesis 22 is unique in that it’s the first occurrence of the word ‘love’ in the Scriptures – and it centers on a sacrifice. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross remains the center of God’s love and our faith. Never move away from it – but live your life as a reflection of its light.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

Today, meditate on the sacrifice that God gave for you, and seek to live today in that love and sacrifice and manifest it to the world.

Walk daily with God at your side!