Dec 8 + calling on the Lord

 Today, we caught up on missing work.

I didn't learn much during the class because there wasn't a lesson, (I got there late so I can't be sure) but after class I learned from Mr. Rease that a coach of a certain sports team led half of his team to be baptized and the coach received some sort of demotion because of it. This impacted me because: yes, there is separation between church and state, but the coach likely didn't force those kids to get in the water and be baptized. For one, if that happened, the headline of the story would be different. Two, it wouldn't be a genuine baptism if the players on the team didn't choose for themselves to believe into the Lord Jesus and be baptized into His death and resurrection. This makes the whole demotion part of the story unsettling to me, but when compared to the extent of persecution that is soon to come for Christians, this type of treatment is very minor. With this knowledge, I plan to look into this story and read it for myself.

I liked our conversation. I love how he doesn't get on me for being late every day even though at this point I definitely deserve some scolding. He most definitely feels some type of way about my frequent tardiness, but I feel like he doesn't mind it as much as he would if I didn't get my work done because of said tardiness. I've been keeping up with recent work, but I still need to get some of that old college work on google drive done.

Today I am doing great. I have been grinding out my work and am working on getting my cover letter done. I'm excited for the weekend. On Saturday night, I may go camping with some brothers and enjoy the Lord feasting on Him (feast on our physical food over the fire too) at Stone mountain. My dad called it "Luxoro-camping" because he will rent a yurt (a little hut with beds and A/C). It sounds like my dad's type of camping... We plan on being back in the area to attend the Lord's table meeting by 10 AM, so we may have to wake up early. 

I'd like to end with a few verses and a word on them: 

1 Cor. 1:2b ...the called saints, with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours. 

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all and rich to all who call upon Him; For (13) "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

O LORD JESUS! JESUS IS LORD! how rich the Lord's sweet name is. I love how "shall be saved" in Romans 10:13 isn't merely referring to our irrevocable eternal salvation, but also to the present-moment peaceful rest that the Lord brings to us when we call upon His name. Calling on Him instantly brings us out from all of the strenuous situations we go through as our lives unceasingly press us and into our human spirit, where He as the Spirit dwells (Rom. 8:16). The Lord's living presence brings quick and timely salvation to our restless souls in any and every moment we need Him to, simply by our calling upon His delicious name. 

The name "Jehovah" means "I am that I am", and the name "Jesus" means "Jehovah the Savior." That's: "I am that I am, + the Savior." All the fullness of the Triune God dwells in Christ (Col. 2:9), and this person, Christ, lives in us (Rom. 8:10)! Praise the Lord! By His blood shed in his victorious death on the cross, we are reconciled to Him and we can now be filled unto all of the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19b). By entering into His presence, we can attain and grow in such a living, personal, and intimate relationship with and in Him, which can only come by (as often as we can) using our human spirit to contact and receive Him. Over the last couple of months, not a day has gone by that I didn't call on my precious Lord Jesus. Lord, remind us to call on You!

I've just thought of some more verses:

Romans 8:8 And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

No matter what we are doing for Him, if we are in the flesh, we cannot please God. (even if we're doing something scriptural!) So then, how does one leave the flesh..? You turn to your spirit; where the Lord is! 

This applies to reading the Bible, too. 2 Cor. 3:6b says: For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Simply call on the Lord every time you open the Bible and He will much more easily and clearly bring things to light while also keeping you from judging His Word in your flesh-set mind. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:6)

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Yet if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him.

^^So how do you turn to your spirit? You call: OHH LORD JESUSSS!!! It's so important to bring yourself daily into the Lord's presence, to call upon His name. He's a real person. Just like in the physical realm, if you call the name, you will get the person of that name. Praise the Lord, by His resurrection He's the ever-so-easily accessible, life-giving Spirit! (1 Cor. 15:45b)