Water the Medium

“All organisms familiar to us are made mostly of water and live in an environment dominated by water. Water is the biological medium here on Earth, and possibly on other planets as well. Life on Earth began in water and evolved there for three billion years before spreading onto land. Modern life, even terrestrial (land dwelling) life, remains tied to water. All living organisms require water more than any other substance.” Biology Seventh Edition—Campbell & Reece.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:1-10

It sounds to me that in the very beginning, water was not just central to the creation but was the first thing and only thing that existed until God made a “firmament in the midst of the waters and divided the waters from the waters.”

I once heard a preacher named Yan Venter say that all of space and planet Earth inside space were created as a bubble was made when God “divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament.” Personally, I am not sure what to think about that, but it is fun idea to think about as it is. I don’t believe in macro evolution but I do believe that water was and is central to the creation of life.

Before a child is even born it lives in water (embryonic fluid) within its mother’s belly. When the water breaks it is time for the child to leave. Nevertheless, he or she will always be dependent upon water to continue existing.

Love the Sinner & Hate the Sin

Many, like myself, will testify to loving the sinner but do we really hate the sin? Of course the phrase “love the sinner and hate the sin” is not found in Scripture but the idea behind it is. While some of us feel that we are pretty decent at loving the sinner, have we any idea what it means to hate the sin? I am not sure we do.

I feel that the consequence of not knowing how to hate the sin results as a defect in the genuineness of our love for the sinner. Opposites—love & hate—must operate in a kind of unity through our activity in this world. We are to love what God loves and hate what He hates. If there is anything that God hates, it is sin. And if there is anything that God loves, it is the sinner.

The love and hate of God for the sinner and his sin is beyond my ability to comprehend. God does work in mysterious paradoxes.

If I only love the sinner and have no hate for her sin then what motivation or hurry has my love to want to see her changed? Or what if I only hate the sin but have no love for the sinner? Without love my hate would turn its eyes from the sin to the sinner. All would be lost.

God is love. And I am inclined to think that godly hatred is really just another expression of love. Nevertheless, we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us hate sin as He hates it and love the sinner as He loves him/her.

The Correction of the Father

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12

When I read this several nights back my heart was so filled with joy, for the revelation of God as my Father speaks to me in many different ways. It is the simplicity and honesty of this verse that moved me and continues to stir my thoughts.

In all truthfulness, there have been times that I have despised the chastening of my Father. Not really knowing or understanding the beauty of its meaning. I say that the chastening of the Lord is beautiful and good, because in it, much is revealed.

First, the fact that I partake in the chastening and correction of God tells me that I am His son. There is a double movement that takes place. Because, as God corrects me He also confirms me. Correction belongs to the children. I am now no longer under the wrath of God but under the correction of God. His correction is sweet because in it He confirms the greatest desire of my heart.

Second, Father corrects me because He loves me. I believe that for Christians, the reason it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God (Hebrews 10:31)” is because of his love. For His children it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a loving God. I have a friend who once said that “it is not the wrath of God that I fear, but it is the love of God which I fear.” I agree with this, for in Christ I have been removed from the wrath of the Father (Romans 5:9). Love is the essence of every action that He makes towards me.

Thirdly, Father corrects me because He loves me, and because He also delights in me. “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.” The Father delights in me! He delights in me! Wow! God Himself delights in me! And if He delights in me should I not also delight in Him and declare that His correction is good and sweet?

Read and hear as it is revealed in Hebrews 12:7-11

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Praise the Father.

Who is the King of Glory?

Inspired by Psalms 24:7-10.


Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
For the King of glory shall come to His estates.

Lift up your heads, O you Bride!
And be lifted up, you everlasting hearts!
For the King of glory has come and made His abide.

Christ, our Hope of glory!
Has made His home within our hearts.
And we now partake of a different story.

Who is this King of glory?
It is Jesus the Christ!
He is the King of glory!

The glory, which the Father has given the Son,
The Son has given to those who believe.
That we also may be one!

From Glory to Glory!
Forever we will romance,
In God’s eternal story.

Only One Word

Only one word.
From a million I can choose,
But only one I can use
Which will be heard?

Will it be idle?
Perhaps even witty?
Or is my tongue still in need of bridle?
Lest I speak just to be pretty.

One word is all I got,
Perhaps I should ponder?
For I want it to be a deep thought,
Lest it haunt me in the yonder.

Only one Word is worthy.
Jesus!
He who was sold for thirty,
The man named Jesus.

What need have I of more than one word?
None whatsoever!
For in me dwells the eternal Word.
Forever!

No other words I need,
For only one Word can save.
To it I heed,
And I am made brave.

Jesus!!