Monergism (4th Day 130)

Finally! A word for what I believe--monergism!

I find myself looking for flaws in the doctrine, but instead find that I agree with all that's said. God is a Mystery, and I do not understand fully how He works, but I recognize His work in me.

While some may say it's unfair that God would choose those that are His, they forget that God knows all and knows how those He chooses will repsond to Him. In our finite minds, we cannot understand fully the mind of God. But, He told us that is how it is.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

I suggest you look it up and decide for yourself. Here's the site: http://monergism.com/

The Day's End (4th Day 125)

We are chosen by Christ before the world was; it is our free will to accept the Grace offered us. I don't pretend to understand God's mind more than He reveals it to us through prayer, action and scripture. God acts in our lives and will use us to His Good Purpose whether we like it or know it or not. It is still up to us to willingly do His Will; but His Will will be done.

Salvation is offered to all who will receive it and it is in the offering that we are chosen. Is everyone chosen? I don't know. But I know that God revealed Himself to me in my life and offered me His Grace. That's how I know He chose me first, how I know that I was chosen.

How God offers His Grace to others, and how they respond, I don't know. That's why we are cautioned not to judge whether others are saved or not, because only God sees into their hearts and knows what decisions they will make. It is on the hearts of men that God writes His Law and it is our hearts that drive us to repentance.

Those who harden their hearts and reject God's Grace are lost. Jesus tells us that the unpardonable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. But to commit such a sin requires the total and absolute rejection of God's Grace, and more than that, it is to scoff with contempt at the Love offered. One cannot blaspheme God's Spirit without first recognizing it, and once recognized, we must either accept God's Grace or reject it.

I don't know anyone else's story but mine. I don't know when God spoke or how He spoke to my family. I only know that He spoke to them and they believe; that's all I need to know.

We should never think that God chose us more than someone else. That may or may not be true, but that is God's business, not ours. If we think that, our Pride will cause us to fall prey to Satan's deceptions and lead us on paths away from God's Will.

Don't misunderstand what I am saying. I believe without a doubt or exception that we can only enter the Presence of the Father through Jesus the Son, and it is through Jesus that we are made Perfect and Holy. But, because it is not by my own actions that I make myself worthy (it is Jesus that makes us worthy), I can never think that I am "better" than the Jew or Muslim. But I should pray that God will draw them to Him and that they will accept His Grace when offered.

I'm not sure that I have made myself any clearer than before, but I sure did say a lot. Let me add this final thought concerning being chosen. Jesus says that because God loved the world, that He gave his Son, not because He loved the Jews (or any other group), but because He loved the world. That's why I believe that in the offering we are "chosen", we become the Elect when we accept the Offering.

The 4th Day Continues (4th Day 125)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It's been a very long time since I last wrote to you. Something has been missing in my desire to write. I've had nothing I wanted to say. I feel like the seed that was cast on thin soil, grew quickly and then withered. I was the hare in the Tortoise and the Hare. I want to tell you that "I'm back!", but I'm not going to make a promise that I may not keep.

Instead, I just want to say that I have thought of you from time to time. I have not forgotten you; I just didn't know what to say.

At the Gathering in October, I mentioned how I knew that my enthusiasm would be attacked. Well, it was. But it was so subtle that I didn't see it coming. You see, I'm an impatient person and I expect everything to happen suddenly. That is a weakness of mine. When things don't happen suddenly or obviously, I often miss them. That's what has happened. I have allowed my enthusiasm to wane because I didn't see immediate results.

I've learned a lesson. The lesson is to obey. I wanted to see things happen according to my schedule, my will. (Hmmm, sounds like Judas!) I became disobedient by not sincerely seeking God's Will (or if I did, I chose to overlook it). I've allowed myself to become distracted by focusing on other things. The problem with that is that when God talks to you, it's easy to ignore Him. I have forgotten the things I wrote about before: daily study of God's Word, fellowship, and continuous prayer.

But while I may have drifted off course, Jesus never left my side. He never abandoned me. He was always there, speaking to me through the Holy Spirit, guiding me back on course. However, I could be stubborn! And while God could have become angry, He didn't. He was patient and merciful and forgiving and loving. He has reawakened the Spirit within me. This time, however, I will take things a day at a time and call on God continually.

While I want to and will try to write often, I may not. I'm not going to make promises for the future that I cannot see. I am going to listen to God's Will (with His help), instead of following my own.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

It is a blessing to know the Lord and to serve Him, to be chosen. I pray that I will not squander that blessing. Let's pray for each other that we will be refreshed by the Holy Spirit daily so that we may serve the Lord gladly.

God Bless you and keep you.

De Colores,
Bill