"Acknowledge"? [Reflections On Book The The Book Of Philippians (Phil. 2:12-18; Matt.25:37-46; Luke 2:9; 1Cor.15:24-28)
Not, “Happy ever after”, chum;
Not “In the end all folks will come”;
“Acknowledge” for most folks will be,
“Oh heck! Guessed wrong – which now I see.”“Be on our knees”? Obeisance, yes,
Or “Mercy plead”; and “Goof confess”;
This Pollyanna, “Wait, they’ll come”,
Leaves out “The New Jerusalem”.As Jesus said – two groups there’ll be;
Surprises in both groups – “Who me?!”
There “Superficial” will not cut
The mustard; says The Judge, “That’s tough”.Such “Easy grace” to some is home;
That’s fine so long as they don’t roam
Into the other parts of text,
Where happy view gets somewhat vexed.“Fruit of the Holy Spirit”, more,
As Watchman Nee points out – before
A change is seen, outflow through us,
Deep change takes place, which happens thus –Let Spirit in – Baptism time;
Bad fruit on tree knocked off is fine,
But grows back in – the tree is bad;
Axe to its root, that makes us glad.Replacing tree, “No longer I
Who lives in me”; self had to die
So tree-replacement could begin –
It’s Christ who lives in me; I sin.The Baptist view of “self-control” –
Vain hope that is; as seasons roll
Into a future tired we be
From fruitless struggle – bad tree’s seed.So clear some room in people’s lives
For Spirit-life, for when He thrives,
The fruit comes next, replacement-tree
Good fruit there grows – which others see.The purpose of “Rules”, “Laws” to do,
Is just convince reluctant you
That “struggle” is a nasty trap;
Changed-tree you need – with different sap.Thanks Lord for this.
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