Dallas Willard - the Lord is coming

 “Now we need each of us to ask ourselves this question. Where is our treasure? What do you treasure, really?

What do you spend your time worrying about, thinking, being concerned about? What do you pour your life in? That's your treasure.

Because as Jesus said, where a person's treasure is, there will their heart be also. Where your heart is, is where your treasure is. And when we think about the Lord coming, we want to remember that what will happen then is not that we will just do some little trick and manage to get in the door before it closes.

No, our condition when he comes will be revealed by his coming. But what is revealed is not something that happens at the moment, but our entire attitude toward the Lord.”

From The Dallas Willard Podcast: 11. The Ten Virgins and the Evil Watchman. “A Revelation of the Heart” (1983), Nov 4, 2024

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dallas-willard-podcast/id1762596670?i=1000675581883

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I NEVER KNEW YOU

“Campbell Morgan in his study of the parables comments on how sad it is to realize that in this parable of the evil servant, where you have those who are placed in charge of the household of God in his absence, the church, the kingdom of God, now in its non-nationalistic form, in its universal form, where it doesn't matter whether you're a Jew or a Frenchman or an American or whatever, but you're just a member of the church. He says how sad it is that over and over we find within the household of God, people mistreat others still. They still regard sometimes the church as a place in which to exalt themselves and to find the goods that they want out of life, whatever it may be, rather than seeing it as a place to act as the gentle under shepherd of the Lord and to not act for gain or for prominence or for anything else, but simply to help the people of God.

And it's still true. And it's very unfortunate and very sad. And here we need to put this parable together with our other parables about the tares and the parable of[…]”

From The Dallas Willard Podcast: 11. The Ten Virgins and the Evil Watchman. “A Revelation of the Heart” (1983), Nov 4, 2024

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dallas-willard-podcast/id1762596670?i=1000675581883

This material may be protected by copyright.

Hope 6

 I’m discovering more ways that I thought possible that I’ve been seeking my own promotion, my own image. I’d like others to think well of me, more than what my Father thinks.  My selfish independence is not even close to a life of surrender to my loving Father who wants me to trust Him and Him alone. Refusing to naval gaze or look in the mirror is not comparing myself to others. Living a simple of life of trust and surrender is filtering out the noise of the world and slowing down. 

“Do you know the liberation that comes from giving up your rights? It means you are set free from the seething anger and bitterness you feel when someone doesn’t act toward you the way you think they should. It means that at last you are able to break that vicious law of commerce that says, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back; you bloody my nose, I’ll bloody your nose.” It means you are free to obey Jesus’ command, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).” - Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Bible 311

 It is mind blowing that we can talk all things out with the Creator of the universe. He loves us and pays attention to our individual lives. He provides access to Himself through the Son and guides our lives through the Spirit. The theme of Hebrews is that we might go far deeper than a surface faith. Jesus came and lived manny us, and He knows what it is like to live in a sin warped world. The theme of Ezekiel seems to be Sauk g that God chose the prophets to experience special messages that should ask us up out of our stupor. May we be alive in Christ and grow deeper in Him. 

Hope 5

 As we move into deeper understanding g of how much our Father loves us, we develop a stronger passion to love. Our hope becomes stronger. Our faith imand trust in our Father solidifies. At the same time, we may sense a solitude of loneliness in seeking righteousness and His kingdom without a close brotherhood of like hearted Christ followers.  We may even experience opposition and persecution from the evil forces that know their certain end. 

“The Devil is like a rat in a jar that is filling with ether. We should expect that as his death gets ever-nearer, he will beat his claws more furiously against the glass.” - Jared C. Wilson

Connected 1

How can we develop a stronger connection with our Triune God?  Why do you and I get so distracted?  I recently read the book “Renovated” by the author of this devotional, psychologist Jim Wilder. He discusses how God created us with a deep need for attachment with God. When we are not attached, we have attachment disorder, searching for meaning and purpose in all the wrong places. To be attached to Him, is grasping His love, being glued to His word, trusting Him completely, and deepening our love because of His love.  

Bible 310

 The reality of Scripture is that its words are true. We live in a culture that is trying to redefine truth into what each person believes to be true. But on the day we will give an account to God for our lives, I’m wondering if part of the accounting process will be our view and practice of Scripture. We have so much access to resources regarding the Bible compared to previous generations. We are without excuse for not pursuing the truth documented in the Bible. It’s sobering that Ezekiel and Revelation are similar in their glimpse of God’s judgment. 

Hope 4

 It is Election Day, filled with debate, division and animosity. The hate talk is rampant. Gossip and innuendo are the themes of the day. My anxieties could easily run rampant if it weren’t for the power of God’s presence. His kingdom power is unlike anything in our culture. The world’s forces of power, prestige, possessions, and passions are no match for His rule of His presence in our hearts. The storms of the day can arise but He calms the chaos in our heart. 

“To gain power, to coerce other people, Jesus saw this, without winning their minds and their hearts, is always self-defeating in the long run. And that's why today, 2,000 years later, people do not look back to Caesar for guidance or inspiration. They looked at the ability to coerce, which looks so attractive and enticing and relevant in the moment, is so useless in the long sweep of human history.

People who think that political power is the ultimate form of relevance have it exactly backwards. And Jesus saw that.”

From John Ortberg | Become New: 11. What’s Not At Stake in the Election | John Ortberg, Nov 4, 2024

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-ortberg-become-new/id1554045522?i=1000675581723

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