The Nature of Christian Desire

Desire to speak with a voice that is not your own,
Not that which brings about destruction with slander and ill-will,
But rather a voice that encourages and inspires
And brings comfort, as of the oracles of God.

Desire to press on with a strength of a promised rest.
Strength that surpasses all fleeting ability that dwindles with age;
One that rigorously develops through tribulation,
And has a consistent and unquenchable ability to endure.

Desire to consider wisdom with a mind that is Biblically sound,
Not the misguided attempts that justifies wrongdoing and contemplates self.
Being rather, one who persists in understanding Truth - the mystery of God,
Which reveals itself to us in Christ Jesus.

Desire to serve with motives that are a pleasing sacrifice,
With disregard to the aroma of lust, deceit and the acquirement of self gain.
Instead, giving into acts of peace and selflessness,
And endorsed by integrity.

Desire to love with a heart after God,
Not given over to shallow attempts of worldly stimulations and addictions.
Neither changing nor failing in example,
But instead exemplified in purity.

Desire to hunger and thirst with a soul that leads to glory.
Insatiability that escapes a void engrossed with maddening darkness.
An exchange from the old man to a fulfilling gratefulness of salvation And to the Holy Spirit of God which indwells.

copyright 2005. travis marshall iv

Long Suffering of the Creator

Let the heavens be filled with your wonder and the whole world be amazed at the works of your hands. Yes, the things that have confounded men throughout the ages. Still there are a few faithful. Those who know our origins are not of chance. Those who are in awe of your majesty though they cannot comprehend it in fullness. Offering praise and thanksgiving for what has been revealed. How long should the rest refuse? The ones whom you have created, yet have rejected you. Merciful Lord, they do not understand your long suffering. They mistake it for indifference and even non-existence. All the while your hand is still stretched out. Even your fingertips are extended until the last one shall acquire. My God and my King, full of glory and all things incomparable.

copyright 2005. travis marshall iv

To Criticize or Judge

Why are we so quick to cast judgment on an individual? Should we not instead weigh the matter first, and in an even balance? One's soul is the sum of many choices through the course of life. We, however, outside that particular soul either condemn or glorify them - in our own souls coincidentally - based upon the few or even a singular event that we may witness. This is why we are warned against such reservations.

To be sure, what is evil glorifies the evil one, just as what is holy glorifies the Holy One. Nevertheless, try as we might we can never separate these two choices so that we might please one or the other except the Spirit of their being (I am speaking of Christ or of Satan respectively and no more of others) be within us. To give ourselves over wholly to these contrasting lifestyles is to inevitably comprehend the design and consequently the destination of our souls altogether.

copyright 2005. travis marshall iv