Personal Comment by Larry Perry

I’ve have been writing these blogs for five years now. It began at the bequest of my loving wife. I had written part time to fill in for the church’s devotional writer and took some joy in helping out. I’ve always journaled, so this became an extension of that. I have had some positive feedback but I do not continue this effort for praise. I now feel more led by the Lord than ever.

Towards the end of last year, beginning with the names of God, the Lord has been leading me to follow a new line of writing. Because my blog reaches places line China, Russia, Indonesia, India, and there may be a fair amount of new believers seeking God, I have felt the need to place things plain and simple. My personal preferences are for the mysteries and deep meanings. I love words, origins, translations, and all the possible connections that effort makes in revealing God’s design, personality, and character.

This new effort might seem unnecessary to some of my more mature readers and I understand that, but this isn’t about us. It has to be about the lost and seeking. I am so far removed from my own salvation moment, with so many wondrous miracles of God on my behalf, I had lost touch with how it felt to be in dire need of salvation.

God made it easy for me. He doesn’t always make it easy and we should all be mindful of those who have just now entered into the Kingdom and what that might feel like for them. If during these days to come you find yourself restless with the repetitive nature of instruction in righteousness please at least pray that things you know and have seen might enrich this experience for those just now entering into the kingdom.

Tomorrow I will return to task, obedience of faith and what the Lord would have said.

Galatians 6:12 (The Passion Translation) All those who insist that you be circumcised must do anything are recruiting you so they can boast in their own works. They are attempting to avoid the persecution that comes with preaching the liberating message of the cross of Messiah!

Paul is speaking to a particular people who insisted on circumcision. They were called Judaizers. The principle of insisting on anything as a qualification for eternal salvation is wrong. The liberating message of the cross is all that is required.

Question anyone who tells you that you must do anything to keep your salvation. Where is their scriptural support for insistence? Is their practice universal or particular to a denomination? I do not want to fill a new believer’s head full of concerns about their relationships in fellowship. I would caution anyone, old or new, in the practice of insistence.

We all must be patient and wait on the Lord. Growth in the Lord comes at different rates. You cannot expect others to “keep up” nor should you fell less saved because others “get it” while you still struggle. Change from being worldly to being spiritual can be a joyous journey if you are not burdened with unnecessary demands. Encouragement should not sound like a demand. Don’t insist.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Gifts do not come with demands. This gift of grace is given in love and to feel the love and receive it into your heart is that first sign of your eternal salvation. How you deal with that, how it changes you and what to do with it is a life lived.