Poetry

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By their fruits you will know them, the Master said, but so many
forget His simple words. They think it is doctrines or behavior or denominations that
show they know God, but that’s not what Jesus said.

“Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God,” it says in first John, but
who takes that seriously? We think He doesn’t have sheep in any other pasture,
we think only those who use His name are counted as His.

Jesus said “I, if I be lifted up... will draw all men unto me.” Now He doesn’t
qualify that to only Christians or only those in “Christian” countries.
He says He will draw ALL.

The Christians, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, Confucianists, Sikhs and Jews are
all on God’s mind. They are part of that ALL. It is not our profession that
impresses heaven, but our possession of divine grace within.

Isaiah 57 says “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has
a contrite and humble spirit.” - with him who is willing to
surrender self and be “born from above.”

In the Beatitudes Jesus talks about the humble, the meek, the merciful,
the pure and the peacemakers. These attributes are not owned by a
limited set of humanity that reads the Bible.

Many humans give evidence, by the fruit of their actions, that the Holy Spirit dwells within - people who have no knowledge of Jesus - people who do not know the Bible. Yet they have the meek and humble Spirit of heaven that Jehovah delights in.

Peter blurted it out in Act 10, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. And it almost split the church - even back then.

Jesus talked about the exclusiveness in His day, “And I say to you that many will come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out...” Matthew 8.

We are tempted to think it is the “heathen” who bear the most condemnation, but Jesus said “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago.”

It is not the unbelievers that are the most guilty in heaven’s sight, it is the “lukewarm.” The ones who have squandered great opportunities are the ones who receive the wrath of God. Yahweh rebukes the ones who “bury their talents.”

The Almighty is not upset by the ones who have had little opportunity, He is upset with the ones who are careless about the blessings sent from above. God is most angry with the people who profess but who don’t live.

The attitude that is open and receptive to the divine principles is what the Almighty values. The only condition Jesus laid down was that one must be “born from above” - one must be changed within - to see the kingdom of God.

It is not knowing facts, but knowing the Maker, it is not the head, but the heart, it is not understanding doctrines, but being teachable that counts with Jehovah. Wherever hearts are open, the Spirit imparts and lives are changed - God is not partial.

Sometimes we are tempted to think God only loves and is active in the “Christian world” but that is nonsense! The same Holy Spirit that is aware of the sparrow that falls “draws all men” moment by moment.

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