JUDGMENT THEN MERCY

In life there are physical rules in the physical realm we must obey no one is exempt from gravity, heat, or motion. There are biological functions that govern our delicate body, which must follow to be able to operate at its maximum ability. So too in the Spiritual realm; there are divine spiritual principles we must follow to be able to function and operate correctly in God. Take forgiveness as an example. We think forgiveness is doled out unlimited, but not so in God. As we forgive we shall be forgiven. So if we forgive a little we shall be forgiven a little. The opposite is also true and both are bound to God’s divine Spiritual principles. If we forgive much then we can expect to be forgiven by God much. Jesus said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: ³⁸Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:37-38) In verse 37 Jesus was lining up the principle “forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” and then in verse 38 Jesus sets the standard of our forgiveness “For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Did you get that at “the same measure.” God operates at the same measure. I wonder why we think God is going to give us more than what we need? This type of thinking is just plain old greed which most church leaders (worldwide) exploit at the disadvantage of the Gospel message. God is to us what we are to Him and the more faithful we are to God the more faithful God is to us. What father would not in his heart have a great love for a son or daughter who is faithful? We read verses in the Bible such as, “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23) and have ungodly Bible evangelists, preachers, and teachers twist the precious word of God into another message for their personal gain and ambition whereby saying the seed is money, but that is not what Jesus said. Jesus explaining the parable said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. ¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:10-11) Yet on Christian TV all you hear is bury your seed (money) into my ministry and God will give you a supernatural harvest of return, well not so in God my friend. God always operates at the same measure and does not honor a lie and subversion of His word. “Give and it will be given unto.” God knows what you have and what your need is. Do not get off track in the greedy stock market game of I will give $5 and God will give me $100 oh no my friend give to God, be led by the precious Holy Spirit, and He will give back to you what you need. Here then is a true trust and confidence in God to meet our needs. The basis of our giving is not built on how much money we have or the abundance of our resources, but on the right heart condition of giving. If we give with the right heart condition God can use whatsoever we give to meet His and our need. The widow lady who gave her last two mites (or one farthing) gave with a right heart condition. Jesus said of her, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ⁴⁴For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:43-44) I wonder what her reward for her obedience and sacrifice was? If her need was money I am sure (the Bible does not say) God met her need, but if it was something else (peace, joy, health, etc.) I am sure God gave to her in measures she could not contain. God loves to meet the needs of His children. I have seen this time and time again over the many years of walking with the LORD. The more I am faithful to God the more He meets our needs and even some wants. We serve a great God who loves us and yes wants us to walk in His truth and in the precepts of His words.

Another area in the Scriptures that we can look at that has a judgment then mercy principle in operation is the lady caught in adultery. Now I know this story talks about adultery, but you can replace adultery with any sin (lying, murder, cheating, stealing, etc.) and the story will still ring true. In John we read, “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, ⁴They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. ⁵Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? ⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. ⁷So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. ⁸And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. ⁹And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? ¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11) Here the scribes and Pharisees (the religious folks of their day) bring a lady caught in adultery to Jesus to trap Him into speaking against the Law of Moses, one of the most beloved member and law giver of the Old Testament. Notice the scribes and Pharisees came with words to accuse, but Jesus met them with silence. In verse six it says, “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” What an unorthodox way to defend yourself -- silence. When Jesus was before Pilate the Bible says, “and Jesus opened not His mouth.” You know in these types of situations all words do is just get in the way. Jesus knew, “A soft (Strong’s #7390 tender, delicate, weak) answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) Jesus’ silence conveyed His great strength not to be moved (oh how I need this in my life) by words or pressured by people. In verse seven he broke His silence, “he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” and then went back to writing on the ground. In only 15 words Jesus convicted the entire crowd of men and they departed and then Jesus went back to writing on the round. Now left on stage is only the lady and Jesus face-to-face. And Jesus asks, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” And she replied, “No man, Lord.” She recognized Jesus (being in the appearance of a man) was not a mire man and He could not only condemn her, but He could forgive her of her adultery. She also knew He was the only man who could have taken up a rock and took her life. Jesus replied back to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Now this is a wonderful story of mercy and forgiveness we all like and want to relate to it in times when we are caught doing something wrong. We all are like the lady caught in adultery we all at times, “have sinned and come short of God’s glory” right? Many preachers and teachers say Jesus was writing down the sins of the men in the crowd who probably had slept with her and were now trying to cover their infidelity with religious works of men. But, you know things are no different today. Instead of confessing our infidelity (and the like) and getting it taken care of (before God and man) we have programs in churches to deal with the shame and grief we have caused our spouse, family, friends, and even ourselves. We wrap our big sins (over drinking, gambling, divorce, etc.) up in a really nice Easter basket and cover them and their actions with words and meetings. The church counselor has replaced the somewhat busy pastor, after all the church counselor has a degree from the local university and they know all of the modern techniques of counseling people who needs to get honest and truthful before God, who needs the Holy Spirit to convict them so they can get right before God and man we have a 12 step program that takes care of our problems. I do not think Jesus was writing down the sins of the men in crowd if so He would have addressed them individually. Their sins were not addressed (to forgiveness) they were only convicted and they departed. Verse nine says, “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:” what a sad state to be in. They had an encounter with Jesus was convicted, but never had their sins dealt with. Is this not the picture of the church (worldwide) today? We come to church, hear the word of God preached and taught (in some churches), we are convicted, but depart without having our sins dealt with. Oh LORD please let this not be my life.

How could Jesus say, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more?” The answer is quite clear, Jesus did not condemn her because He had already judged her and found her guilty. Now I was not there, but I believe what Jesus was writing on the ground was a list of all of her sins. It must (just like ours) have been a big list because twice Jesus wrote on the ground. Here is the principle; judgment then mercy. Jesus was judging the lady in His writing. If we go to court and stand before a judge there must be a judgment rendered before the judge either punishes us with the full extent of the law or gives us some degree of mercy. So too in God, when we stand before Him (the highest judge and we all will someday) He must judge us and make a judgment about us based on His divine spiritual principle before He can execute His judgment (punish) or extend mercy. The judgment must happen for God to know how much mercy to extend. Remember God operates at the same measure, but God is the one that decides to either execute punish or extent mercy. Again, the spiritual principle is judgment then mercy. Paul in 1 Corinthians tells us, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. ³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32) The judging of ourselves will limit the amount of judgment by God and man on earth not all, but some. And the more we learn to judge ourselves as God judges (righteous judgment) the less God will have to judge us in our next life to come. Never forget this life is about qualifying or being approved for our position in our next life. We seem to put (me too at times) so much effort into living this life with ease and comfort and fail to be concerned about the requirements for our next life to come. Paul warns us also in 1 Corinthians, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3) When will we learn to judge the angels? In our next life? Oh no, in this life as we learn to judge ourselves and the again the spiritual principle is judgment then mercy. Oh I know we have been taught do not judge (who wants to be judged by another?), well this may be true for some, but for those who can handle the weightier things of God: matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith they are a requirement and our reasonable duty before God and man. Written by David Stahl

THIS WORLD

This world is an amazing place at times. It is a place of unforgettable beauty and goodness, but at other times it is a place of heinous shame and evil. In my short life I have seen the splendor of the ice capped mountain of Everest in Nepal and I have seen the throngs of wilder beasts running at break-neck speed along the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania, both sights to behold. I have seen waterfalls and trees that seem to almost kiss the skies. I have brought life into this world and sadly I must confess I have taken life out of this world. There is nothing more special in this world than to hear a new born baby cry for the first time as it comes into this world. With all of the beauty this world can offer yet at the same time it also offers great sadness, poverty, and despair. I have seen the swollen bellies of children around the world; the sickness, disease, and famine of biblical proportions and even the ravages of war in the eyes and lives of people around the world. Yes this world is an amazing place, but my friend if we take a liking to this world it will destroy us. We must keep our heart out of the world, we must never think of this world as our home. Yet we (I include myself at times) Christians do all we can to dig our heart and lives into the dirt of this world. Jesus told the disciples, “Heaven (Strong’s #3772 the universe, the world, the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced) and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Now Jesus was not talking about “Heaven” our heavenly home for awhile, He was talking about the sky, the clouds, the stars, the planets, etc. Like the disciples then today many Christians get things here confused when the “world” is mentioned and if you get confused here my friend you are in great danger of losing your soul.

Now the Scripture often uses the word “world” to describe and explain things that affect our senses and human reasoning. For example in the most memorized verse in the Bible and even in the next verse we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) John had a lot to say about the “world” maybe because he spent his last days on earth in exile on an island; funny how the love for the world seems to grow dim in our thinking and heart as we get alone with God and separate ourselves from all of the hustle and bustle of life’s busy routine. In 1 John we read, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) In both examples the word “world” is used many times, but the same Strong’s translation word, Kosmos #2889, is used. How could God give His precious Son Jesus for the “world” in one verse, but in another verse tell us not to love the “world?” For us to understand this we must apply some good old common sense (that God gave us) and do what Paul instructed Timothy; to study the word to find thy self approved so that we would not be found to be in error. Never forget the truth of the word of God (both written and spoken) is contained in the words as the precious Holy Spirit gives us revelation understanding to the words and concepts contained in what God is telling us. If we look at the Greek meanings for the word “Kosmos” we find it has eight meanings:

(1) An apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.

(2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, the arrangement of the stars, “the heavenly hosts,” as the ornament of the heavens in 1 Peter 3:3.

(3) The world, the universe.

(4) The circle of the earth, the earth.

(5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race.

(6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.

(7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly: the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce us from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.

(8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort.

Most certainly (and using our common sense) God would not give His precious Son for any government or earthly order, any arrangement of the stars, nor for the universe of which he made (Genesis 1:16) in five words. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus was talking about meanings, 2-4. In John 3:16-17, Jesus was talking only about meanings 5 and 6. And in 1 John 2:15-17, John was talking about all of the meanings, except for number 5 and 6. And do not make the mistake of thinking the earth is this world it is not. The earth (and the fullness therein) is what God made and gave to man that will never be destroyed. The world is an ungodly system, a way of thinking and doing things that is in direct rebellion to God’s word. To see this system in action all you have to do is turn on the TV and watch the news and popular programming. The world is the legal system that says it is okay to kill babies when God calls it murder. The world says it is okay for men to marry men and woman to marry woman, but God calls this an abomination. Almost every social issue and cause today that is popular in the world is in direct rebellion to God’s word. Also to see the world’s system in action all you have to do is go to a contemporary church and see how they have sold out from the Godly principles of the word of God through; Christian rock and roll music, interpretive dance, flag waving, permissive dress with no modesty or decency, and the folksy, hip-hop, liberal, worldly sermons that deny the authority, revelation, and power of God while exalting the world. God’s idea is for the church (the Body of Christ) to change the way people (the folks Jesus gave His life for in John 3:16-17) operate in the world, but today the opposite has happened the world system has been adopted by the church and it is changing the hearts and minds of Christians world-wide. We must go back to the tried and true principles of the Bible, the old ways lead to life. We most certainly are not to love this world (and be very careful how we love this earth), we are not to put our heart and soul into this worldly system (no matter how good it looks or how good it feels) we are to shun the world and all of its trappings. There is a direct correlation to our spiritual growth and development and the love we have for the world; the more we go after the world the less of God will be in us. I see this in the way we go after technology; everyone has a cell phone and are glued to them, we are addicted to social media (Facebook, etal), our lives revolve around technology and we seldom have time to be quiet and still before God to hear His voice. We cannot even get in a car (alone) and be still we must turn on the radio, put on a CD (at unnatural levels) or text someone, for most people (Christians included) technology has overwhelmed our lives and our relationship with the LORD (for most Christians) is non-existent.

Now do not think you are immune to this love of the world. The Lord really showed me how I am addicted to things from our past. As Karen and I began to look at the furniture, pictures, and the “stuff” we planned to move to our new home I could not believe how strong in my feelings I had for some of the old furniture we bought when we first got married. Furniture we shipped all over the country, from duty station to duty station, even to Germany and back. Furniture and things collected through the years that remind us of places and people from a time that has passed us by. You know we will never be able to allow God to bring new things into our lives until we can allow God to remove the old things from our lives. It was really strange the time we spent after we were told we had to move seemed like we were in limbo or in neutral. It was kind of surreal we were in a holding pattern (to be honest it was confusing at times) just waiting to close and move, but in us was a peace because we knew we were going to be moving and we were heading into uncharted waters in God. This my friend is the place where God can be God (in the unknown) and not some puppet on a sting to command at our whim, but a holy and capable God who cares for us individually and cares for the plan He has purposed and planned for our lives. We see this clearly in the life of Abram. In Genesis we read, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” (Genesis 12:1) Did you know God is a great disturber? He loves to disturb us and put us in a real fix so He can fix us. This is what He did with Abram. Can you imagine God telling you to leave your country, leave your relatives, and even leave your family? Talk about the unknown and then God says I will show you as you go where you are going, but Abram (in obedience) had to let the old things pass away in his life so that God could show him the land he was to go to and so that God could bring all of His precious promises (that God had for him) into his life. But before God can get us to a place where we are willing to leave our country, relatives, and family God first but be able to cut the world out of our heart and minds. In Matthew Jesus shares some very hard and often misunderstood words with us, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39) Jesus says, I have a sword and I am going to stick it in your heart (if you let Me) so that I can cut you out of this world and it is going to hurt and even cause strife and anger in your family; between your parents, brothers, sisters, and even your children, because if you love them all more than Me than you are not worthy of Me. God has a cross (our will laid against God’s will for our lives) for each and every one of us to die on, to crucify our love for this world and its pleasures. Count the cost my friend Jesus comes with a sword to cut our affections and desires for this world out of us and it will hurt (we will cry) and we will even die, but “he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The more we allow God to cut us out of this world the more of God’s life we will have in us. Two things I will promise you my friend and that is Jesus is good at wielding a sword at our heart, his sword cuts us coming and going and the second is it will hurt we will have pain, heartaches, and confusion, but if we allow Jesus to do His work in our lives at the end of the surgery we will be able to love the unlovable as Jesus did, endure the persecution and tribulation Jesus also promised us because we will not be of this world we will be birthed from above. Written by David Stahl

LIFE THROUGH DEATH

The longer I live on earth the more I seem to want to live to see our grand kids have kids and the more my flesh screams to be soothed and satisfied. Now do not get me wrong I do not have some death wish to leave this earth before God’s time and I know God still has much more for Karen and I to do, but I see within me lives a paradox that I battle and even struggle with dying so that I can live. Now you will not hear this spiritual concept taught at most churches (maybe 1 out of 10) most churches teach we are to live in the abundant life of Christ, be blessed in overflow, claim (concept not found in the Bible) it, just tune in to Christian TV and you can pick and choose the lie you wish to follow. But, it is the message of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) that is the power of the cross. The power of the cross is not about life it is about death. The power of the cross is not about abundance, but limitations. The power of the cross is not about freedom, but restriction because limitations, restrictions, and death to our flesh bring us to fulfillment and completion in God, not abundance, freedom, and life. Paul shares this stark, hard truth with the Church at Corinth and us, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Things have not changed in over 2,000 years, today preaching the preaching of the cross (the Gospel message, death to our carnal selfishness, our self-centered nature, and our religious self-seeking) is still considered foolishness and many still perish. The truth is the more we can die to our intentions, emotions, and desires the more we can live in the God type of life (Zoe) and the more God can use us. But here is the key, we must die. The progression in God is not into greater life, but into greater death. Jesus said, “The thief cometh (not the devil) not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) Jesus came so that we may have life, but for us to be able to walk in the newness of life in Christ He had to die. The hallmark and crowning glory of Christ’s ministry on earth was not all of His parables, teachings, miracles, and healings, but when He died between two thieves. Jesus came for one reason and only one reason to die on a cross so that we might be able to have His life. Jesus was not talking about going to heaven as most denominations and religious groups teach, oh no Jesus was talking about going to die, “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die.” The only place we are going to after we accept Jesus as our personal savior is to our cross (our will laid against God’s will for our lives) to suffer (soften our heart towards man and God) and die. Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us to places we do not want to go, but if we do go we can be raised in newest of life, God’s life. This too is a type and shadow of what God expects to happen in our lives. Please notice verse 11 says, “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Jesus had to die so that we, “might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” the spiritual principle: life though death and the more death we experience in God the more life in God we can experience. Jesus shared this same spiritual principle (used other words) with the disciples and they scratched their heads again. You know the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying until the Holy Spirit came and yet many today say we do not need the Holy Spirit. It only shows us just how far we have drifted from the truth of the word of God and of the dark heart of the religious, humanistic, apostate (works focused) church of today. Jesus said in John again, “Verily, verily, (a double negative, strongest use of an imperative to express significance) I say unto you, Except (meaning: the only way there is no other way) a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-26) So the only way, there is no other way to be fruitful in God is to “fall in to the ground and die,” but no I thought God has called us to “life and it more abundantly?” No my friend God has called us to death not to life, God is calling us to lose our life for if we can lose our life surely we shall find it. Jesus repeats this thought in Matthew and added some other qualifiers, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39) Please notice the losing comes first and the finding is second. Never forget order in God really matters. If we do not allow God to strengthen us with might in the inward man (we cannot do it on our own this is called religion) to be able to lose our life we shall never be able to walk in the life that God has for our life. How could we? It is God’s power, it is God’s life not ours! We have no faith, faith is owned by God He even gives us a measure (Romans 12:3) to be saved and live Godly, everything is owned by God.

Paul knew this spiritual principle and the progression of it all too well, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) Remember truth is progressive and the more truth we can allow God to work in our lives the more it will cost us. And to the extent of our death will measure the extent of our life in God. Remember death in God has a purpose. The purpose of death in God is resurrection. No death no resurrection. We all want to experience God’s newness of life, well to experience God’s newness of life we all first must die, we all must lose our life so we can find it. Is our life in God lost? No it is on the other side of death, both spiritually and physically. We see this in Romans when Paul taught the Church at Rome, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:4-5) Did you get that? “We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.” And verse five brings it all home to our heart, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Never think God highly exalted His Son Jesus because He was God’s Son, oh no if you do you will be grossly wrong. God, “ . . . hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” not because He was God’s Son, oh no, but because He, “ . . . made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Our way is clear and our path is sure, as Jesus is our example we too must fall into the ground and die so that we will be able to be fruitful and walk in the newness of life God has for us all. But, no death no life it is as simple as that. Written by David Stahl