EDEN'S FATEFUL CHOICE

How beautiful the flowers bloomed on Eden’s brow

The lion feeding with the lambs together grew

And perfect peace became the pledge for all to see

God’s awesome glory and eternal majesty.

No virgin love could ever match two hearts that day

As heaven’s Presence followed them at work or play

The Tree of Life whose leaves brought healing to all men

Gave Paradise one glorious hue of color blend.

But pride began to question freedom’s right to choose

The Serpent’s plan apart from God seemed better news

So in the course of time the fruit to make one wise

Became the sting of death that caught man by surprise!

But why this veil of night so cloaked in haunting fears?

Would man exchange God’s righteousness for mortal tears?

It was the price that disobedience had to pay

That formed this chasm touching every man today.

Yet from the ashes of despair the Lamb was slain

To bridge this separation from sin’s crimson stain

So while He calls for you to meet Him face to face

Receive this priceless Gift of God’s redeeming grace.

--B. Pent

MY IDOL- SELF!

The heathen gods that men have made
Are not the things that charm me most.
The idols that surround my world
Are often subtle, blameless hosts.

I think of family, money, too
Of cars and clothes to name a few.
But deeper till the Serpent's charm
That sex and drugs pose little harm.

Yet while I judge another's fate
I have a greater problem still.
My own propensity to shade
The unrepentance of my will.

I make excuses for mistakes
By pointing out another's faults.
Yet on the throne of my own heart
There sits the idol I won't part.

But when the spotlight of God's Word
Reveals the source of all my sin
I see the anger, gossip game
Has left me weak with oozing pain.

The problem faced along life's way
Is having self dethroned each day.
"So NOW, dear Lord, take full control
Of all my body, heart and soul".
--B. Pent

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT -- Matt.5:5

Man is basically rebellious and pride rules the heart! Think about the times we make excuses for our actions! We tend to be defensive, don't we? When Satan tried to usurp God's throne he was thrown our of heaven. Pride drove man to eat the forbidden fruit and was deposed. Life's course pretty much remains the same. Whatever it takes to succeed and reach the top, that's our mantra! When Jesus said in verse 5, "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," He introduced a new strategy for world conquest. Spiritual warfare is won through "meekness" not brute force. A cursory review of Moses' life would not place him on a list of weak and mild leaders, yet Numbers 12:3 states "Moses was a very humble man, more than anyone else on the face of the earth." Jesus was also said to be "meek and lowly in heart" (Matt.11:28) but He was not weak.

John MacArthur puts it into perspective when he states, "the essential difference between being poor in spirit and being meek or gentle, may be that poverty of spirit focuses on our sinfulness, whereas meekness focuses on God's holiness. The basic attitude of humility underlies both virtues. When we look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and unworthy we are; when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how righteous and worthy He is."

Meekness is the opposite of violence or vindictiveness. it is one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). Emotion out of control destroys productivity. Meekness is power under control. It was often used of breaking a wild horse until it became gentle and useful under the master's control. So the spirit of meekness is the Spirit of Christ who controls the yielded Christian. Peter put it this way: "humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (I Peter 5:6). We are the happiest and most useful under His control. His kingdom is inherited through humility. Are you willing to come under His control? Then, you will be blessed!