What's The Difference Between Diagnosis & Remedy, Law & Jesus?

What’s the difference between diagnosis and remedy?  You have some experience with that, right?

For a long time, the Law of God proved the diagnosis that man was heart-sick and could not heal himself.  It was Diagnosis, not Remedy.  The Law was perfect in proving man’s need for life—Jesus—on the inside.  He is The Remedy. 

Those who have Remedy (and are forever free of Diagnosis) may, nevertheless, become entranced and entangled by Diagnosis.  You know how that goes—they get beat up—because the only true way to life—God’s life—is through Remedy and what He gives by grace and for free.  Diagnosis is merciless.  Have you ever been examined and beaten up by it?  I bet you have.  In the same way that you cannot live just by knowing what’s wrong with you, Diagnosis is worthless, except it points to Remedy.  The only thing Diagnosis has ever done well is to be the set-up for Remedy.  Remedy ends Diagnosis.

If Diagnosis has been busily proving failure and sickness to you, be done with it.  It’s not for you, and it won’t help.  You know who The Remedy is—it’s Him you want.  Tell Him.  Talk with Remedy.  He is the life for you and your heart.  He has everything you need for free—and He makes fantastic house calls. 

(Romans 7:4-25; 8:1-4; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 15:56; 2 Corinthians 3:6-8; Galatians 3:23-25; 5:1-25)

(This is based upon yesterday’s video, “What’s The Difference Between Diagnosis & Remedy, Law & Jesus?” and is for those who would rather read than watch.)

What's The Difference Between Diagnosis & Remedy, Law & Jesus?

Have you ever tried to live just by knowing what’s wrong with you? You can’t live by Diagnosis—it’s merciless—but you can with Remedy. Take 2 minutes and see what you think.

Knowing God’s Voice & Thoughts

Do you wonder if you’re hearing right?  Is there anything that will truly help you to hear and know God’s voice and thoughts?  Take 3 minutes and see what you think.

Topping God

The good news, the great stuff about you and God is this: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

If you believe that by bringing your sins before God you’ll get Him to pay great attention to them, think again. He already did. And He’s pretty satisfied and rather happy with what He has done about sin. You can’t top it.

If you believe that behaving perfectly—with really great commitment—will earn favor with God that would otherwise be threatened, think again. He has given full favor already in Christ. Attaining to some measure of “sold out-ishness for God” won’t add anything to the everything He’s already given. Jesus did it all, and He’s all you need. You can’t top it.

You’ve got Him? You’ve got everything. You don’t need to look anywhere else.

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

(This is a transcript of today’s video, “Topping God,” and is for those who would rather read than watch.)

Topping God

Do you need to motivate God or does He have enough already?  Do you need to be “sold out” and “radically committed” so God will bless you?  Take 1:47 and see what you think.  (Romans 4:25)

God Is Lousy At Math

If my daughter’s school requirements are any indication, then it has to be said that God is lousy at mathematics.  He’s simply terrible at counting anybody’s sins, even if they’re particularly good at sin counting for themselves.  And if anybody could do it, He should be able, don’t you think?  With the knowledge and historical records that He has, He could easily be a math genius and blow us all away. 

Nevertheless, whenever anyone recounts their sin while speaking with God, not only does He pay no attention to the records (at least not to yours or mine), He seems convinced that we didn’t do it.  While looking at us, He appears always to have Jesus’ record in mind, and He keeps assigning to us the same sin number:  Zero.  I think it’s His favorite number.

My point?  Don’t bother asking Jesus for help with your math homework. 

(2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Hebrews 10:17-18; John 3:17)

(This is a transcript of yesterday's video, “God Is Lousy At Math.” It's for those who might rather read than watch.)

God Is Lousy At Math

Have you ever wondered how God would do in math class?  In less than two minutes, I think this will help you figure out the answer.



(2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Hebrews 10:17-18; John 3:17)

Throwing Out Pharisees

How much do you like failure? I can almost hear your answer: “Gosh, Ralph, I’ve been waiting for you to ask! I love failure!” Okay, but where do you experience it most?

When we tell Christians (or anyone, for that matter) how they should behave according to a standard, even a good one, we’ve set them up for failure. We might as well tell them to obey the Law as a means of enjoying the Christian life. Won’t that be fun? No, that’s crazy! They don’t go together.

Life by standards or rules, especially relationships and particularly married life, makes vigilant Pharisees out of us. It can’t help it. Not only must I scrutinize my every move, but I will also become hawkish about my wife. . .and everyone else. That does not make for a trusting and loving relationship. Where there should be a natural flow for us, a moving together, there’s examination, evaluation and distance.

Worse, we will miss the awe and thrill that comes from discovering that Jesus is actually in us, and that He is perfect for us and for our wife or husband, and for every relationship. Usually, we won’t be particularly thrilled with God—not God in us, not really—and He loves to do in us what He is like, making us aware of how fit and compatible we are with Him.

If we are going to live by the Holy Spirit (and, it seems to me, that is the way for a new creation), then we’ll need to think of love more as a person—Jesus—and less as a behavior. Otherwise, love easily becomes an imitation, a copycat, rather than the genuine article—the real deal—alive in us.

You don’t want the look of love for people, the skinny façade of the Pharisee. It’s a fake, and you’re not set up for that. It won’t work for you. It’s Jesus you want, and the way that He is with you and the way that He is with others. For all who receive Jesus, you’ve done exactly that—He is the gift, the inside gift. Think of the hope you have—He is Jesus.

(This is a transcript of yesterday's video, “Throwing Out Pharisees.” It's for those who might rather read than watch.)

Ralph's Videos

To quickly access and watch the short videos I began posting a few weeks ago, you may go to my YouTube channel and subscribe (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0vzTvP_wD3Q59QDl9hx7w), or you may “Like” my ministry Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LifeCourseMinistries), which will alert you to every new post and is a concentrated version of what you find here (no comics, no jokes, etc.).

Throwing Out Pharisees

Did Jesus get along well with the Pharisees?  How does He treat the Pharisee sometimes found in us?  While merciful, He likes helping us throw out the Pharisee--especially in relationships. He is determined that we should have the joy of His life for ourselves and for others.

Here’s a quick, 3 minute, Monday afternoon flick that will help you have and enjoy genuine love—the real deal—rather than the fake, put-on love of a Pharisee.

Quiet God?

Do you wonder how to get God to be quiet? Try re-hashing your sins with Him, who remembers them no more. (Hebrews 10:16-18)

Viking Style

I hope you're enjoying the weekend!

Fear Of The Jalapeno

At breakfast with my youngest daughter yesterday, I realized that Jalapeños frighten me—always have.  I confess that here.  Sometimes it's like there's an angry army in the eggs I'm served, or an unruly mob of them in otherwise innocent grits. I'm really okay with a relatively smallish band of brother jalapeños in dishes. It's just that sometimes they horde together, overwhelming the host, and then their only purpose is to burn everything everywhere.

As a small group, jalapeños think of adding warmth and character to their host--they understand their place. Nobody throws a fiesta like they do.  But as they grow in number, their natural heat incites their neighbor, and, now crowded together, it is only a matter of time before they become uncomfortable, bitter and enraged. And then Jose Jalapeño hurls his sombrero skyward and shouts, "Vamos, mis amigos! Aprovechar el dia! Ahora es nuestro momento para descartar los huevos tristes y sin sabor! Quemar todo!"  At that point, all is lost.

(Translation:  “Let’s go, my friends!  Seize the day!  Now is our time to rule the sad and flavorless eggs!  Burn everything!”)

By the way, before “Carpe diem” was brought into vogue by the movie, “Dead Poets Society,” “Aprovechar el dia!” was the cool thing to say.  Those of us among the west coast intelligentsia during high school used to measure ourselves based upon how skillfully we inserted the phrase into conversation.  For example, a friend might ask, “Do you think we dare go to Del Taco at lunch?”  Speaking the phrase at that moment would have been unforgivable.  However, if a friend asked, “Do you want to take out the furniture from a classroom tonight and re-arrange it on the sloping roof so everyone will see it in the morning?” THAT would be the moment.  “Aprovechar el dia!”  Perfect.

But anyway.  I suppose I write today to encourage those who have silently suffered because of their well-founded fear of the jalapeno.  You are not alone.  You are not wrong.  I have appointments with the principals in my daughter’s schools next week so we can begin educating and encouraging students to take a stand against bullying those who have Fear of the Jalapeno (FOTJ).  I’m certain they will be delighted to help.  Additionally, I hope to meet with my congressman on Monday in order to work out the details of a bill that would regulate the jalapeno industry (“Big Jalapeno,” as it is known) and restrict jalapeno sales and purchases, requiring background checks and three day waiting periods.

Real Love

If we are going to live by the Holy Spirit (and, it seems to me, that is the way for a new creation), then we’ll need to think of love more as a person—Jesus—and less as a behavior. Otherwise, love easily becomes an imitation, a copycat, rather than the genuine article—the real deal—alive in us.

Love From The Inside Out

How’s your imagination? Is it powerful? Vivid? Or is it wimpy?

Well, try this: Imagine Jesus loving your husband or wife or kids or neighbors. Would He be good at it? Or would He have to act like He loved them? Would He be all marshmallowee, ooowee-gooey, put on, lovey dovey? Or would He have the heart and the truth and the feelings for it? You know the answers.

And here’s the big question: Where is Jesus? He’s inside of a lot of people. That was always the plan, right? And that’s what He’s been doing for a long time now—making homes for Himself. We are His personal housing project, and it’s likely that He is inside of you; paid off the mortgage and everything. Think of the work He could do from where He is.

Have a few chats with the One who lives in you. Listen for Him who will never burden you with what He is particularly good at doing for Himself. Ask Him to show you or tell you what He thinks of your spouse, of your kids, or your neighbors or co-workers, or someone across the world. Pay attention. Watch what He does in you about them. He will produce in you what He is like. He’s given you the heart for it, because He’s at home there. And that is the very best of life, with you and God.

Remember that thing about His yoke being easy, His burden light?

Well. Yeah.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

(This is a transcript of yesterday's video, “What God’s Personal Housing Plan Means.” It's for those who might rather read than watch.)