Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in Heaven but You? And Earth has nothing I desire besides You.
May this be my attitude and my mind set: That God is my life, my home is in Heaven with Him, or wherever He will spend Eternity; and this Earth and everything in it, all the wealth, all the things, all the places and pleasures will not last, they are all temporary and will one day be destroyed. Then there will only be my God, and His glories forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Our Super-Hero
Psalm 50:14-15
Sacrifice thank offering to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.
God often gives us groups of three things He requires of us. Here he tells us, as His children, to:
(1) Be thankful, have a mind-set of gratitude;
(2) Be honest in our speech and always do what we say we will do; and
(3) Turn first to God to help us through whatever problems and trials we have, to let Him be our Super-Hero, who Saves The Day! Then He will get all the honor, the glory, the credit.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sacrifice thank offering to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.
God often gives us groups of three things He requires of us. Here he tells us, as His children, to:
(1) Be thankful, have a mind-set of gratitude;
(2) Be honest in our speech and always do what we say we will do; and
(3) Turn first to God to help us through whatever problems and trials we have, to let Him be our Super-Hero, who Saves The Day! Then He will get all the honor, the glory, the credit.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 28, 2016
With One Voice
Romans 15:4-6
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. --
The perseverance and encouragement are gifts from God, so we can understand what God wants to teach us in the Scriptures. When we all have God's Holy Spirit living in us and opening our minds to understand and perceive His ways, and opening our hearts to want to follow through in our attitudes and actions according to what we've learned, then we will all live our lives in obedience to His rules; and when we experience the results of cooperating with the way He designed this world to work and receive the benefits, the blessings from God, then we will all respond to this bounty by magnifying our Creator and Redeemer and Lord together, with one voice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. --
The perseverance and encouragement are gifts from God, so we can understand what God wants to teach us in the Scriptures. When we all have God's Holy Spirit living in us and opening our minds to understand and perceive His ways, and opening our hearts to want to follow through in our attitudes and actions according to what we've learned, then we will all live our lives in obedience to His rules; and when we experience the results of cooperating with the way He designed this world to work and receive the benefits, the blessings from God, then we will all respond to this bounty by magnifying our Creator and Redeemer and Lord together, with one voice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
What God Established, Stands
Psalm 119:89-91
Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in Heaven. Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the Earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Thine ordinances, for all things are Thy servants.
God is God, and we are not. God is sovereign over all Creation, for He made it all, and He rules it all. What He established in this Universe continues, because they all obey His ordinances, His rules for them, and they follow them. Only Angels and Man have the authority to disobey His rules; the Angels that sinned were created without the ability to die, so they cannot be redeemed. Man sinned also, but God made Mankind with the ability to live or die, so because we sinned, we can have a substitute to die in our place, so we can live. In the Old Testament, God allowed an animal to die for the sinner, and he can now be forgiven, because the death-price has been paid. When Jesus died, He was the Perfect Sacrifice, Who paid our human death in our place, so now there needs to be no more sacrifices, because what He paid was perfect and forever.
So now we have a truly free choice to obey, and love Him; or to rebel and refuse Him. We can live in His power, as His Spirit has come to live in us, and we are able to now obey His rules; or if we refuse Him, we will perish.
God is Truth, and what He has said will prevail throughout all time, unchangeable and unalterable. Even though this Heaven and this Earth may perish (when He decides to destroy it), His Word will never pass away, through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in Heaven. Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations; Thou didst establish the Earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Thine ordinances, for all things are Thy servants.
God is God, and we are not. God is sovereign over all Creation, for He made it all, and He rules it all. What He established in this Universe continues, because they all obey His ordinances, His rules for them, and they follow them. Only Angels and Man have the authority to disobey His rules; the Angels that sinned were created without the ability to die, so they cannot be redeemed. Man sinned also, but God made Mankind with the ability to live or die, so because we sinned, we can have a substitute to die in our place, so we can live. In the Old Testament, God allowed an animal to die for the sinner, and he can now be forgiven, because the death-price has been paid. When Jesus died, He was the Perfect Sacrifice, Who paid our human death in our place, so now there needs to be no more sacrifices, because what He paid was perfect and forever.
So now we have a truly free choice to obey, and love Him; or to rebel and refuse Him. We can live in His power, as His Spirit has come to live in us, and we are able to now obey His rules; or if we refuse Him, we will perish.
God is Truth, and what He has said will prevail throughout all time, unchangeable and unalterable. Even though this Heaven and this Earth may perish (when He decides to destroy it), His Word will never pass away, through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Level Ground
Psalm 143:8-10
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
This is my prayer, also. May I realize that His mercies are new each morning, and that He knows better than I the way I should go each day. I want to be teachable to learn about what He would want from me in every circumstance of my day, then my "enemies" will not prevail over me. My home is not the house I live in, but it is my Lord God, in Whom I dwell and have my being. Following in His footsteps will lead me into that level playing field where I will experience victory in every trial.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
This is my prayer, also. May I realize that His mercies are new each morning, and that He knows better than I the way I should go each day. I want to be teachable to learn about what He would want from me in every circumstance of my day, then my "enemies" will not prevail over me. My home is not the house I live in, but it is my Lord God, in Whom I dwell and have my being. Following in His footsteps will lead me into that level playing field where I will experience victory in every trial.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 25, 2016
Dwelling Together In Unity
Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when (God's people)(brethren)(brothers and sisters) live together in unity! --
Well, isn't that the goal of us all, to be able to live peacefully, in agreement with one another as we live our lives! Whether it is in our families, our neighborhoods, or our churches, we all strive to get along.
I have found that the the best way I can get along with others, even those who disagree with my faith or world view, is to find what we do have in common, what we can agree on, and basically agree to disagree on what we don't agree on. But this does not mean to water down what I believe. When I am willing to listen to them, without condemning them or putting them down, then they will be more willing to listen also to me, when I explain how much God loves them and has provided for all their needs.
Even members of my own family can work against me as my enemies, so I need to make every effort to do what I can to reconcile our relationship and keep the lines of communication open.
I pray that we all will discern what we can do, especially in our own families, to show Jesus' love to them in ways they can understand, to reconcile our own families, and to inform and invite them into God's own family.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
How good and pleasant it is when (God's people)(brethren)(brothers and sisters) live together in unity! --
Well, isn't that the goal of us all, to be able to live peacefully, in agreement with one another as we live our lives! Whether it is in our families, our neighborhoods, or our churches, we all strive to get along.
I have found that the the best way I can get along with others, even those who disagree with my faith or world view, is to find what we do have in common, what we can agree on, and basically agree to disagree on what we don't agree on. But this does not mean to water down what I believe. When I am willing to listen to them, without condemning them or putting them down, then they will be more willing to listen also to me, when I explain how much God loves them and has provided for all their needs.
Even members of my own family can work against me as my enemies, so I need to make every effort to do what I can to reconcile our relationship and keep the lines of communication open.
I pray that we all will discern what we can do, especially in our own families, to show Jesus' love to them in ways they can understand, to reconcile our own families, and to inform and invite them into God's own family.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Shoulders Or Carts?
Numbers 7:6-9
So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the Priest. But he did not give any to sons of Kohath because theirs was the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.
God directed that the Gershonites would carry all the curtains of the Tabernacle, of the enclosed tent itself and its open courtyard, all the soft, fabric parts of the Tabernacle. They were given two carts and four oxen, so they could fold and stack all the curtains to fit into two carts.
The Merarites were to carry all the boards, bars, pillars and sockets, all the hardware to support the curtains for the tent and the courtyard. So Moses gave them four carts and eight oxen, as that's how many it would take to hold all these items.
But he didn't give any carts or oxen to the sons of Kohath, because they were to carry the "most holy things" on their shoulders, by the poles inserted into the rings on the corners of each object (Numbers 4). This ensured that they would be safe. But the Kohathites were not allowed to touch or even see the objects they carried until they were completely covered by the sons of Aaron, or they would die (Numbers 4:15, 19-20).
Originally, all three tribes were to carry all the Tabernacle tent, hardware and furniture on their shoulders, but these carts and oxen were given as gifts, so Moses allowed the tent and hardware to be loaded onto the carts. But never were the "most holy things" to be carried except on the shoulders of the Kohathites.
God was very precise in how these things were to be handled and dealt with. So with us, God allows some "holy things" to be carried in carts, though we need to pack and load them securely. But the "most holy things" in our lives, we need to carry on our shoulders, to personally bear the burdens, even when we cannot "see" or understand all the intricacies of what we're going through; we are to trust that God knows what's best for us, and remember that it takes great pressure to forge a diamond. He is making diamonds of us, to one day shine like the sun!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the Priest. But he did not give any to sons of Kohath because theirs was the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.
God directed that the Gershonites would carry all the curtains of the Tabernacle, of the enclosed tent itself and its open courtyard, all the soft, fabric parts of the Tabernacle. They were given two carts and four oxen, so they could fold and stack all the curtains to fit into two carts.
The Merarites were to carry all the boards, bars, pillars and sockets, all the hardware to support the curtains for the tent and the courtyard. So Moses gave them four carts and eight oxen, as that's how many it would take to hold all these items.
But he didn't give any carts or oxen to the sons of Kohath, because they were to carry the "most holy things" on their shoulders, by the poles inserted into the rings on the corners of each object (Numbers 4). This ensured that they would be safe. But the Kohathites were not allowed to touch or even see the objects they carried until they were completely covered by the sons of Aaron, or they would die (Numbers 4:15, 19-20).
Originally, all three tribes were to carry all the Tabernacle tent, hardware and furniture on their shoulders, but these carts and oxen were given as gifts, so Moses allowed the tent and hardware to be loaded onto the carts. But never were the "most holy things" to be carried except on the shoulders of the Kohathites.
God was very precise in how these things were to be handled and dealt with. So with us, God allows some "holy things" to be carried in carts, though we need to pack and load them securely. But the "most holy things" in our lives, we need to carry on our shoulders, to personally bear the burdens, even when we cannot "see" or understand all the intricacies of what we're going through; we are to trust that God knows what's best for us, and remember that it takes great pressure to forge a diamond. He is making diamonds of us, to one day shine like the sun!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Directing Our Hearts
II Chronicles 20:32-33
And (Jehoshaphat) walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. --
Asa was a good, Godly king who not only worshiped the Lord God himself, but promoted the Lord throughout Israel (II Chronicles 14:2-5). Asa reigned 41 years (16:13), then his son Jehoshaphat became the king. He also worshiped the Lord God, and did right for the people. He had all "the high places and Asherim removed from Judah" at the beginning of his reign (17:6), but by the end of his life, 25 years later, the high places were back. Even after 66 years of good leaders bringing them back to the Lord, "the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers." It takes constant vigilance to keep the people faithful. We need to make the decision to direct our hearts toward the Lord and continue to monitor our attitudes because the world is just too enticing.
Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!
And (Jehoshaphat) walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. --
Asa was a good, Godly king who not only worshiped the Lord God himself, but promoted the Lord throughout Israel (II Chronicles 14:2-5). Asa reigned 41 years (16:13), then his son Jehoshaphat became the king. He also worshiped the Lord God, and did right for the people. He had all "the high places and Asherim removed from Judah" at the beginning of his reign (17:6), but by the end of his life, 25 years later, the high places were back. Even after 66 years of good leaders bringing them back to the Lord, "the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers." It takes constant vigilance to keep the people faithful. We need to make the decision to direct our hearts toward the Lord and continue to monitor our attitudes because the world is just too enticing.
Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 22, 2016
The Wicked And The Good
Psalms 36, 37
(36:1) I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before their eyes. --
David's message tells us why wicked people do what they do: They don't acknowledge any accountability to God, so they have no brake on the sinfulness of our human nature; the result is that they express in their attitudes and decisions all the selfishness, greed and vengeance that are inherent in our fallen nature.
These two Psalms describe God's view of both the wicked and those who know God, who are called good, because God's power overcomes the bent of human nature. The evil will become the victims of their own schemes and be destroyed, while the good will live their lives according to God's ways and reap the benefits in this life and enjoy God in His glory forever. There are no greys with God, only the black (deep crimson) and white.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(36:1) I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before their eyes. --
David's message tells us why wicked people do what they do: They don't acknowledge any accountability to God, so they have no brake on the sinfulness of our human nature; the result is that they express in their attitudes and decisions all the selfishness, greed and vengeance that are inherent in our fallen nature.
These two Psalms describe God's view of both the wicked and those who know God, who are called good, because God's power overcomes the bent of human nature. The evil will become the victims of their own schemes and be destroyed, while the good will live their lives according to God's ways and reap the benefits in this life and enjoy God in His glory forever. There are no greys with God, only the black (deep crimson) and white.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 21, 2016
God's Lovingkindness
Psalm 118
(1) & (29) Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
(9) It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
(14) The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.
(24) This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. --
The theme of this whole Psalm is God's lovingkindness to us, as evidenced in the first and last verses. So all the middle verses show how this lovingkindness works out in our relationship with the Lord. He protects us and rescues us from our enemies; He gives us prosperity and joy; He gives us each day as a gift (I've heard that's why it's called "the present"). The more we trust in Him, the more blessings we allow God to shower upon us. And every day is a new beginning.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(1) & (29) Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
(9) It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
(14) The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.
(24) This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. --
The theme of this whole Psalm is God's lovingkindness to us, as evidenced in the first and last verses. So all the middle verses show how this lovingkindness works out in our relationship with the Lord. He protects us and rescues us from our enemies; He gives us prosperity and joy; He gives us each day as a gift (I've heard that's why it's called "the present"). The more we trust in Him, the more blessings we allow God to shower upon us. And every day is a new beginning.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
David's House
I Chronicles 17
(1) And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the Prophet "Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord is under curtains."
(4) "Go and tell David My servant, 'Thus says the Lord, "You shall not build a house for me to dwell in;
(10) Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you.
(11) I will set up one of your descendants after you, who shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
(12) He shall build for me a house, and I will establish his throne forever."'"
(16) Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that Thou hast brought me this far?" --
David wanted to build God a house, and God said that He will build a house for David instead! What a wonderful God we have! And God did build an eternal house of David's family: Solomon's throne endured many generations, every one of Judah's kings was of his dynasty (contrasted to Israel, the Northern Kingdom, that had a new dynasty with almost every king they had). And it is the same dynasty, same throne, that King Jesus will reign from when He returns; the eternal reign, that will extend from the Millennial time on this world to the New Earth, and New Jerusalem forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(1) And it came about, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the Prophet "Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord is under curtains."
(4) "Go and tell David My servant, 'Thus says the Lord, "You shall not build a house for me to dwell in;
(10) Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you.
(11) I will set up one of your descendants after you, who shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
(12) He shall build for me a house, and I will establish his throne forever."'"
(16) Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that Thou hast brought me this far?" --
David wanted to build God a house, and God said that He will build a house for David instead! What a wonderful God we have! And God did build an eternal house of David's family: Solomon's throne endured many generations, every one of Judah's kings was of his dynasty (contrasted to Israel, the Northern Kingdom, that had a new dynasty with almost every king they had). And it is the same dynasty, same throne, that King Jesus will reign from when He returns; the eternal reign, that will extend from the Millennial time on this world to the New Earth, and New Jerusalem forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Ask In Faith
James 1:5
But if any of you lack wisdom, --
Has a need of something you don't have, in this case, wisdom.
let him ask of God, --
Don't just assume you'll have it, or try to get it in your own power; but ask God for it.
but let him ask in faith --
Believe and know in your heart that God is faithful to always do everything He said He would do, and He has promised to give us every good thing in this world and so much more in the forever life to come.
without any doubting. --
If we're not sure God will answer, if we think it's impossible, or we don't deserve it, or for some other reason we think won't get whatever it is, then we won't get it.
For let not that man (who doubts) expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. --
When we doubt, we break that connection. When we firmly believe, we leave the door open for whatever we ask for to come to us. Expect it. Trust God that much.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But if any of you lack wisdom, --
Has a need of something you don't have, in this case, wisdom.
let him ask of God, --
Don't just assume you'll have it, or try to get it in your own power; but ask God for it.
but let him ask in faith --
Believe and know in your heart that God is faithful to always do everything He said He would do, and He has promised to give us every good thing in this world and so much more in the forever life to come.
without any doubting. --
If we're not sure God will answer, if we think it's impossible, or we don't deserve it, or for some other reason we think won't get whatever it is, then we won't get it.
For let not that man (who doubts) expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. --
When we doubt, we break that connection. When we firmly believe, we leave the door open for whatever we ask for to come to us. Expect it. Trust God that much.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Ziba
II Samuel 9, 16, 19
David loved Jonathan, and honored his name by welcoming his lame son, Mephibosheth. That's where we first meet Ziba, "a servant of Saul's household" (II Samuel 9:2). Ziba wasn't a slave, because slaves couldn't own anything, but Ziba had a big family, 15 sons, and 20 servants of his own (9:10, 19:17). We first see that David told Ziba to serve Mephibosheth by farming all the land that had belonged to King Saul for Mephibosheth's benefit and income.
The next time we see Ziba is when David is fleeing from Absalom and he meets David with provisions for him and all who are with him. David asks about Mephibosheth, and Ziba lies to David, telling him that Mephibosheth has deserted him to try to be king, himself! David believes him, and gives all of Mephibosheth's land to him! Here Ziba has accused his master of making a power-play when he, himself was doing so.
Then when David returns to Jerusalem, he talks with Mephibosheth and finds out how Ziba slandered him, and David divides the land between the two of them (19:24-30). But Mephibosheth renounced his claim on any of Saul's lands, saying that Ziba could just have it all, and now that King David was back in Jerusalem, he could still eat at the king's table and be provided for.
It seems to me that Ziba had no regard for his lame master, who owned the wealth (the land) and tried to steal it from him by slander and deceit. But Mephibosheth was not competitive with him, and had little regard for material possessions. Ziba wanted earthly riches; he got the land. Mephibosheth had gratitude toward David, and was provided for by the king. They both got what they wanted.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
David loved Jonathan, and honored his name by welcoming his lame son, Mephibosheth. That's where we first meet Ziba, "a servant of Saul's household" (II Samuel 9:2). Ziba wasn't a slave, because slaves couldn't own anything, but Ziba had a big family, 15 sons, and 20 servants of his own (9:10, 19:17). We first see that David told Ziba to serve Mephibosheth by farming all the land that had belonged to King Saul for Mephibosheth's benefit and income.
The next time we see Ziba is when David is fleeing from Absalom and he meets David with provisions for him and all who are with him. David asks about Mephibosheth, and Ziba lies to David, telling him that Mephibosheth has deserted him to try to be king, himself! David believes him, and gives all of Mephibosheth's land to him! Here Ziba has accused his master of making a power-play when he, himself was doing so.
Then when David returns to Jerusalem, he talks with Mephibosheth and finds out how Ziba slandered him, and David divides the land between the two of them (19:24-30). But Mephibosheth renounced his claim on any of Saul's lands, saying that Ziba could just have it all, and now that King David was back in Jerusalem, he could still eat at the king's table and be provided for.
It seems to me that Ziba had no regard for his lame master, who owned the wealth (the land) and tried to steal it from him by slander and deceit. But Mephibosheth was not competitive with him, and had little regard for material possessions. Ziba wanted earthly riches; he got the land. Mephibosheth had gratitude toward David, and was provided for by the king. They both got what they wanted.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Able To Admonish
Romans 15:14
And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another. --
Paul is writing to Gentile Christians in Rome before he has been able to go to Rome to meet them. But from what he has heard about them, he concludes that God has given them His goodness, and that they have studied or been taught the knowledge of God's Truth; this is what qualifies them to "admonish one another."
So when we perceive that another brother or sister has slipped into some wrong or deceptive or harmful act or thought process, then we must examine ourselves first to make sure we have God's goodness in us and have accurate knowledge, then we will be qualified to admonish them, but only in love (see I Corinthians 13).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another. --
Paul is writing to Gentile Christians in Rome before he has been able to go to Rome to meet them. But from what he has heard about them, he concludes that God has given them His goodness, and that they have studied or been taught the knowledge of God's Truth; this is what qualifies them to "admonish one another."
So when we perceive that another brother or sister has slipped into some wrong or deceptive or harmful act or thought process, then we must examine ourselves first to make sure we have God's goodness in us and have accurate knowledge, then we will be qualified to admonish them, but only in love (see I Corinthians 13).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Betrothal
Hosea 2:19-20
And I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.
God loves us passionately, as a newlywed groom is enamored with his new bride. His lovingkindness toward us is the reason we exist. He made us, He knows us, and He is a Husband to us. This involves our communion with Him, deliverance from sin and troubles, enablement to serve Him, enlightenment to know Him, guidance into His ways, forgiveness of all our sinfulness, hope for a bright future and eternity, praise in admiration of all God's wonderful and perfect qualities, and preservation of our life and well-being regardless of circumstances. Betrothal is a promise, a covenant God makes with us (not a contract). It shows how He will protect us and provide for us and care for us in an intimate, romantic way.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.
God loves us passionately, as a newlywed groom is enamored with his new bride. His lovingkindness toward us is the reason we exist. He made us, He knows us, and He is a Husband to us. This involves our communion with Him, deliverance from sin and troubles, enablement to serve Him, enlightenment to know Him, guidance into His ways, forgiveness of all our sinfulness, hope for a bright future and eternity, praise in admiration of all God's wonderful and perfect qualities, and preservation of our life and well-being regardless of circumstances. Betrothal is a promise, a covenant God makes with us (not a contract). It shows how He will protect us and provide for us and care for us in an intimate, romantic way.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 15, 2016
David And Jonathan
I Samuel 18:1-II Samuel 1:25-26
(I Samuel 18:1,3) After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
(20:15) "And do not ever cut off your kindness from my family--not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the Earth."
(20:16-17) So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the Lord call David's enemies to account." And Jonathan had David reaffirm his other oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
(20:41-42) ...Then they [David and Jonathan] kissed each other and wept together--but David wept the most.
(23:17-18) Jonathan said, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." The two of them made a covenant before the Lord....
(II Samuel 1:25-26) How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women.
Both David and Jonathan loved the Lord our God, and they gave His love to one another. From the time Jonathan met David, when Saul interviewed him, he recognized God's love in him, and loved him as himself. Their friendship never did have any arguments or misunderstandings, even though Jonathan's father was King Saul, Israel's first king. Had Saul followed the Lord as his son did, God would have allowed his dynasty to continue, and Jonathan would have been the next king. But Saul thought he knew better than what Samuel told him God wanted him to do, and set his own understanding above God. So God rejected him and chose David to head the dynasty that would rule Israel and beget the Savior, because he was "a man after God's own heart." Jonathan knew that God had chosen David, and he wanted what God decided more than what would be "best" for himself politically. This is real love, not any imitation, like David saw in his wives. They did not love him, and even Michal, Saul's daughter that thought she loved him, only loved her idea of what she wanted him to be, and when he took off his royal robes to dance before the ark of God wearing the common garment of the Levites, she considered him "naked" of his dignity, and despised him. So Jonathan's love was the only true, pure love David knew, other than God's own love for him.
It distresses me to see how wicked people have twisted this pure, true love into a perverted homosexual liaison. Love is not sex; God loves us and parents love their children, and there are numerous other examples of pure love not involving a physical intimacy. God gave us sex as "the marital act," to validate a marriage between a husband and a wife by becoming "one flesh," a physical act. Two people who are the same gender cannot perform this "one flesh" act so they cannot consummate a marriage; even though they may have a wonderful friendship, it's only friendship, not marriage.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(I Samuel 18:1,3) After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
(20:15) "And do not ever cut off your kindness from my family--not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the Earth."
(20:16-17) So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the Lord call David's enemies to account." And Jonathan had David reaffirm his other oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
(20:41-42) ...Then they [David and Jonathan] kissed each other and wept together--but David wept the most.
(23:17-18) Jonathan said, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." The two of them made a covenant before the Lord....
(II Samuel 1:25-26) How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women.
Both David and Jonathan loved the Lord our God, and they gave His love to one another. From the time Jonathan met David, when Saul interviewed him, he recognized God's love in him, and loved him as himself. Their friendship never did have any arguments or misunderstandings, even though Jonathan's father was King Saul, Israel's first king. Had Saul followed the Lord as his son did, God would have allowed his dynasty to continue, and Jonathan would have been the next king. But Saul thought he knew better than what Samuel told him God wanted him to do, and set his own understanding above God. So God rejected him and chose David to head the dynasty that would rule Israel and beget the Savior, because he was "a man after God's own heart." Jonathan knew that God had chosen David, and he wanted what God decided more than what would be "best" for himself politically. This is real love, not any imitation, like David saw in his wives. They did not love him, and even Michal, Saul's daughter that thought she loved him, only loved her idea of what she wanted him to be, and when he took off his royal robes to dance before the ark of God wearing the common garment of the Levites, she considered him "naked" of his dignity, and despised him. So Jonathan's love was the only true, pure love David knew, other than God's own love for him.
It distresses me to see how wicked people have twisted this pure, true love into a perverted homosexual liaison. Love is not sex; God loves us and parents love their children, and there are numerous other examples of pure love not involving a physical intimacy. God gave us sex as "the marital act," to validate a marriage between a husband and a wife by becoming "one flesh," a physical act. Two people who are the same gender cannot perform this "one flesh" act so they cannot consummate a marriage; even though they may have a wonderful friendship, it's only friendship, not marriage.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Raised With Christ
Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, --
When we were baptized we were displaying the picture of "having been buried with Him in Baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead." (2:12) Baptism is the acted-out picture of our dying to the old, natural life, being buried beneath the water, and rising up out of the water to live a new life.
set your hearts on things above, --
Our hearts are the seat of our emotions; we are to passionately love our Lord and desire to be with Him.
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. --
Jesus Christ has finished His work and is now seated on His throne, as God's "right-hand Man" to rule the Universe with Him.
Set your minds on things above, --
Our minds are the seat of our intellectual thought processes; God "reasons with us," (see Isaiah 1:18), so that our faith proves not to be "blind," but perfectly reasonable according to God's higher, perfect reasonableness. That's why we are to "study" God's Word so that we can understand it correctly (II Timothy 2:15).
not on earthly things. --
Our priorities: the important, eternal things must take precedence over our earthly, urgent things that we must do today.
For you died, --
As Jesus died on the Cross, He took upon Himself each of our deaths, dying in our place as the substitutionary sacrifice; therefore, as His death applies to us, then we died.
and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. --
The life we have now is that eternal life that we will live forever. We will live that life, starting now and continuing forever with Jesus. So our life now is in Christ, hidden from us here in this world because it is in Christ in Heaven, and He is in God the Father; so we have our life in Heaven, inside the Almighty God, that we are beginning to live right now.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, --
Jesus Christ lives, and we live in Him, so He is our life now, not ourselves.
then you will also appear with Him in Glory.
When Jesus comes back to this Earth, He will "rapture" His church, we will all receive our Resurrection bodies, like His, and we will be His partners in setting up His Kingdom here and ruling it with Him, starting with that 1,000 years. We will shine like the sun then, displaying His Glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, --
When we were baptized we were displaying the picture of "having been buried with Him in Baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead." (2:12) Baptism is the acted-out picture of our dying to the old, natural life, being buried beneath the water, and rising up out of the water to live a new life.
set your hearts on things above, --
Our hearts are the seat of our emotions; we are to passionately love our Lord and desire to be with Him.
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. --
Jesus Christ has finished His work and is now seated on His throne, as God's "right-hand Man" to rule the Universe with Him.
Set your minds on things above, --
Our minds are the seat of our intellectual thought processes; God "reasons with us," (see Isaiah 1:18), so that our faith proves not to be "blind," but perfectly reasonable according to God's higher, perfect reasonableness. That's why we are to "study" God's Word so that we can understand it correctly (II Timothy 2:15).
not on earthly things. --
Our priorities: the important, eternal things must take precedence over our earthly, urgent things that we must do today.
For you died, --
As Jesus died on the Cross, He took upon Himself each of our deaths, dying in our place as the substitutionary sacrifice; therefore, as His death applies to us, then we died.
and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. --
The life we have now is that eternal life that we will live forever. We will live that life, starting now and continuing forever with Jesus. So our life now is in Christ, hidden from us here in this world because it is in Christ in Heaven, and He is in God the Father; so we have our life in Heaven, inside the Almighty God, that we are beginning to live right now.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, --
Jesus Christ lives, and we live in Him, so He is our life now, not ourselves.
then you will also appear with Him in Glory.
When Jesus comes back to this Earth, He will "rapture" His church, we will all receive our Resurrection bodies, like His, and we will be His partners in setting up His Kingdom here and ruling it with Him, starting with that 1,000 years. We will shine like the sun then, displaying His Glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
When God Relents
Jonah 1:17,2:10
But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
If a fish had a an upset stomach, would it not go deep into its home, the sea, to get sick? But this fish came all the way up to the surface, to the beach, to throw up. So Jonah didn't drown, as he expected. He didn't drown when they threw him into the sea from the ship, and he didn't drown when the fish threw him up. God's plan for Jonah could not be thwarted. Everything Jonah did to try to get out of it, only made him more effective when he did it. Nineveh was filled with cold-hearted, violent men who had done atrocities to the peoples they invaded, and deserved judgement. But when Jonah came, looking stark white from the fish's digestive acids, their hearts softened and God relented. God will always relent when people repent, confess and forsake.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
If a fish had a an upset stomach, would it not go deep into its home, the sea, to get sick? But this fish came all the way up to the surface, to the beach, to throw up. So Jonah didn't drown, as he expected. He didn't drown when they threw him into the sea from the ship, and he didn't drown when the fish threw him up. God's plan for Jonah could not be thwarted. Everything Jonah did to try to get out of it, only made him more effective when he did it. Nineveh was filled with cold-hearted, violent men who had done atrocities to the peoples they invaded, and deserved judgement. But when Jonah came, looking stark white from the fish's digestive acids, their hearts softened and God relented. God will always relent when people repent, confess and forsake.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Afraid Of Jesus?
Mark 4:40-41
He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith [not even trust Me?]?" They were terrified, and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" --
This was when Jesus had calmed the furious squall that nearly swamped their little boat. He seemed disappointed and dismayed that these men, who had been living with and travelling with Him still didn't understand just who He is. "Having faith" means "trusting in." I have faith to believe a chair will hold my weight, so I sit down on it and it doesn't collapse under my weight. I also trust in Jesus to be true to what He says He will do, so I have faith that He will meet all my needs. Even so, if I saw Him instantly calm a storm, would I be afraid, too?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith [not even trust Me?]?" They were terrified, and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" --
This was when Jesus had calmed the furious squall that nearly swamped their little boat. He seemed disappointed and dismayed that these men, who had been living with and travelling with Him still didn't understand just who He is. "Having faith" means "trusting in." I have faith to believe a chair will hold my weight, so I sit down on it and it doesn't collapse under my weight. I also trust in Jesus to be true to what He says He will do, so I have faith that He will meet all my needs. Even so, if I saw Him instantly calm a storm, would I be afraid, too?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 11, 2016
Gifts From God
Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you --
We have been given to us as gifts.
on behalf of Christ --
Because of, as a result of, what Christ has accomplished as our Substitute.
not only to believe in him, --
Our belief, our faith, our trusting in Jesus is a gift of God, not of ourselves.
but also to suffer for Him. --
When we are rejected by others, persecuted by others, it's not to make us victims, but to grant us victory over the works of our enemy.
So the faith we have in Jesus to take our place in death in payment of our debt is a gift from God, as He draws us into trusting Him. And when we are persecuted and martyred, that is also a gift from God. We may see suffering as other people making us victims, but God grants us this as a means of growing us up to be mature adults in His family, and we will reap the benefits as He receives the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For it has been granted to you --
We have been given to us as gifts.
on behalf of Christ --
Because of, as a result of, what Christ has accomplished as our Substitute.
not only to believe in him, --
Our belief, our faith, our trusting in Jesus is a gift of God, not of ourselves.
but also to suffer for Him. --
When we are rejected by others, persecuted by others, it's not to make us victims, but to grant us victory over the works of our enemy.
So the faith we have in Jesus to take our place in death in payment of our debt is a gift from God, as He draws us into trusting Him. And when we are persecuted and martyred, that is also a gift from God. We may see suffering as other people making us victims, but God grants us this as a means of growing us up to be mature adults in His family, and we will reap the benefits as He receives the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
That Downward Spiral
The Book of Judges
This whole book is a series of cycles where: Israel obeys God, becomes prosperous, gets careless, falls into sin and idol worship, gets conquered by another people who mistreat them, cry out to the Lord, He sends a Judge to save them and turn them back to the Lord's ways, and they obey God again. This cycle repeats itself over and over and over in this book. There was no king there yet because God wanted to be their King. But they couldn't "see" God sitting on His throne ruling; they could see the judge, though, so they obeyed God while each judge was alive. But as soon as they were gone, each man went back to his own thinking, doing what was right in his own eyes, instead of looking to God's rules for guidance (17:6, 21:25). They could also see the idols, which so strongly enticed them. So this downward spiral finally culminated in the ultimate degradation of the sin of Sodom, which resulted in a disastrous civil war.
This cycle has played out in many lives since the days of the Judges. That "downward spiral" has afflicted people in every area, in every country, in every family. God often uses the crisis of the bottommost coil of the spiral to draw that individual to Himself, as He did me and many others. But we need to take care that we don't become complacent in our faith, for that will only draw us downward, away from where we need to be in our fellowship with our Father and in our witness of what God has done for us through Jesus.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Choose Life
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach . . . No, the Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. --
Not too difficult--not far away. It must be in our mouth and heart, be part of us, not something outside of us. Our own thinking processes.
See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. --
Life and prosperity, or death and destruction. White and black, there are no grays here. Be drawn to God and His ways, the ways He made this world to operate, to work. Commands, decrees and laws explain how we can cooperate with the way the world works, and get the benefits.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
Or rebel against God's "natural order" to be enticed away, and it will result in destruction, problems, troubles, death.
This day I call forth Heaven and Earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Heaven and Earth were made to order to be the best environments for us to exist in, with everything we need to all be healthy and prosperous; if only we will listen and take to heart what God is teaching us in His written Word.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It is our choice, each one of us. If we would seek to know who God really is, and honestly want to follow Him, then we will fall in love with Him and want to do what pleases Him. And as our Father, what pleases Him is for us to do well. What father doesn't want his children to do well in life, to succeed in their endeavors and to get along well together? So He has laid out for us in His written Word all the rules, regulations and stipulations we need to adhere to in order to cooperate with the ways this world was made to run and work. God is life, He is where all life and Truth originates. To align our thoughts with His gives us access to the root and nourishment that sustains life.
There is no life in any other. Anything else we prioritize before God and His ways only draws us away from life into a slow or sudden death. Even what we would consider to be "good" can blind us to what is really "best" for us. We really need to be careful to make sure we have a right understanding of all that God tells us; then we will be able to participate in the "best" that God has planned all along for us to have.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach . . . No, the Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. --
Not too difficult--not far away. It must be in our mouth and heart, be part of us, not something outside of us. Our own thinking processes.
See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. --
Life and prosperity, or death and destruction. White and black, there are no grays here. Be drawn to God and His ways, the ways He made this world to operate, to work. Commands, decrees and laws explain how we can cooperate with the way the world works, and get the benefits.
But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
Or rebel against God's "natural order" to be enticed away, and it will result in destruction, problems, troubles, death.
This day I call forth Heaven and Earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Heaven and Earth were made to order to be the best environments for us to exist in, with everything we need to all be healthy and prosperous; if only we will listen and take to heart what God is teaching us in His written Word.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It is our choice, each one of us. If we would seek to know who God really is, and honestly want to follow Him, then we will fall in love with Him and want to do what pleases Him. And as our Father, what pleases Him is for us to do well. What father doesn't want his children to do well in life, to succeed in their endeavors and to get along well together? So He has laid out for us in His written Word all the rules, regulations and stipulations we need to adhere to in order to cooperate with the ways this world was made to run and work. God is life, He is where all life and Truth originates. To align our thoughts with His gives us access to the root and nourishment that sustains life.
There is no life in any other. Anything else we prioritize before God and His ways only draws us away from life into a slow or sudden death. Even what we would consider to be "good" can blind us to what is really "best" for us. We really need to be careful to make sure we have a right understanding of all that God tells us; then we will be able to participate in the "best" that God has planned all along for us to have.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 8, 2016
Our Author And Perfector
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, --
Beginner and ender, starter and finisher.
Who, for the joy set before Him --
Jesus saw the result of what He was suffering, and knowing all the good it would do, all the lives that would be changed, all the people that would be rescued; and it brought Him joy, and encouraged Him to persevere and finish that work.
endured the Cross, scorning its shame --
When He was hanging on the Cross, His nakedness was publicly, shamefully displayed for all to see.
and sat down --
Because His work was finished, complete forever.
at the right hand of the Throne of God.
As God's "Right-Hand Man," ruling with Him.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, --
Beginner and ender, starter and finisher.
Who, for the joy set before Him --
Jesus saw the result of what He was suffering, and knowing all the good it would do, all the lives that would be changed, all the people that would be rescued; and it brought Him joy, and encouraged Him to persevere and finish that work.
endured the Cross, scorning its shame --
When He was hanging on the Cross, His nakedness was publicly, shamefully displayed for all to see.
and sat down --
Because His work was finished, complete forever.
at the right hand of the Throne of God.
As God's "Right-Hand Man," ruling with Him.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 7, 2016
"It Is Finished!"
Hebrews 10:11-18
Day after day --
Repeatedly.
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; --
The priests stood up when they did their work in the temple.
again and again he offers the same sacrifices, --
Continuously, never-ending, over and over and over.
which can never take away sins. --
This is why they had to be repeated every day, they could only temporarily cover over the sins; they only paid the interest to service the debt.
But when this Priest --
This is Jesus.
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, --
Jesus offered Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice, which actually paid off our whole debt, for all time.
He sat down at the right hand of God. --
The Temple priests never sat down, they stood every day, their work was never done. But Jesus finished the work, so He could now sit down, as God's right-hand Man.
...Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. --
Jesus' payment at Calvary was the Blood of God, which has infinite power and value to not just cover, but to pay off all the debts in the world and in the whole universe, to change us into beings that are holy, clean, flawless, pure forever.
...And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. --
So now that Jesus has paid off all our debt of sin to God for all time, now we can be continuously forgiven our sins; there need be no more Temple or Cathedral sacrifices, because it is already finished.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Day after day --
Repeatedly.
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; --
The priests stood up when they did their work in the temple.
again and again he offers the same sacrifices, --
Continuously, never-ending, over and over and over.
which can never take away sins. --
This is why they had to be repeated every day, they could only temporarily cover over the sins; they only paid the interest to service the debt.
But when this Priest --
This is Jesus.
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, --
Jesus offered Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice, which actually paid off our whole debt, for all time.
He sat down at the right hand of God. --
The Temple priests never sat down, they stood every day, their work was never done. But Jesus finished the work, so He could now sit down, as God's right-hand Man.
...Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. --
Jesus' payment at Calvary was the Blood of God, which has infinite power and value to not just cover, but to pay off all the debts in the world and in the whole universe, to change us into beings that are holy, clean, flawless, pure forever.
...And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. --
So now that Jesus has paid off all our debt of sin to God for all time, now we can be continuously forgiven our sins; there need be no more Temple or Cathedral sacrifices, because it is already finished.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Respect, Don't Pull Rank
Ezra 5:17 (see 5:3-6:10)
"Now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did, in fact, issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter."
This letter went to King Darius, in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and carried the people to Babylon; so whoever was the king in Babylon had the political authority over the Israelites. They had to have his permission to do even what God told them to do, but their neighbors opposed them. King Artaxerxes had stopped the work on the Temple. But God raised up another king in Babylon who would find Cyrus' decree, and not only allow them to rebuild it, but also had his own royal treasury pay for it.
Even though God required it, they didn't "pull rank" on the king, but asked respectfully. And God had him do this. Always show respect.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did, in fact, issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter."
This letter went to King Darius, in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and carried the people to Babylon; so whoever was the king in Babylon had the political authority over the Israelites. They had to have his permission to do even what God told them to do, but their neighbors opposed them. King Artaxerxes had stopped the work on the Temple. But God raised up another king in Babylon who would find Cyrus' decree, and not only allow them to rebuild it, but also had his own royal treasury pay for it.
Even though God required it, they didn't "pull rank" on the king, but asked respectfully. And God had him do this. Always show respect.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Beings Of Light
James 1:2-5,12,16-18
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. --
Whenever we are going through difficult times, God wants us to realize that He wants us to grow strong spiritually, depending more and more on Him. And if we can't figure out why things are the way they are, or God's purpose in allowing it, then we should ask God, and He will show us His purposes, He will help us understand, to connect the dots to see the connections between our troublesome situation and what we need to do in it; and to get through it to the other side.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. --
This "crown of life" is His own, eternal, shining being Who allows the Sun to reflect a portion of His brightness.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. --
James did not want his hearers to be mistaken or have an inferior idea of how our God exists.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. --
Our God is the Father, the Progenitor, the Creator and Maker of all "the heavenly lights," the stars and sun and moon, and has caused His light to shine from them. He is Light, there cannot be any shadow in Pure Light.
He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. --
God's plan was to have beings of light to be like Himself, to shine forth His light for His glory. He created Angels to be beings of light, but sin was found among them, with no way to redeem them. Then He created Mankind, with possibilities of both life and death. When Adam sinned, he was able to let another take his place in death, so he could continue to live. Now that Jesus Christ has come to be our Sacrifice, He was the eternal Person who could pay our eternal debt to the eternal God in time, and rise from the tomb because Death had no authority over Him. Now we have received that eternal Life, the Life of God our Father; and when we are resurrected when Jesus returns, we will also be beings of Light, like our Father, like Jesus (see Revelation 1:16, His face shining like the sun).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. --
Whenever we are going through difficult times, God wants us to realize that He wants us to grow strong spiritually, depending more and more on Him. And if we can't figure out why things are the way they are, or God's purpose in allowing it, then we should ask God, and He will show us His purposes, He will help us understand, to connect the dots to see the connections between our troublesome situation and what we need to do in it; and to get through it to the other side.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. --
This "crown of life" is His own, eternal, shining being Who allows the Sun to reflect a portion of His brightness.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. --
James did not want his hearers to be mistaken or have an inferior idea of how our God exists.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. --
Our God is the Father, the Progenitor, the Creator and Maker of all "the heavenly lights," the stars and sun and moon, and has caused His light to shine from them. He is Light, there cannot be any shadow in Pure Light.
He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. --
God's plan was to have beings of light to be like Himself, to shine forth His light for His glory. He created Angels to be beings of light, but sin was found among them, with no way to redeem them. Then He created Mankind, with possibilities of both life and death. When Adam sinned, he was able to let another take his place in death, so he could continue to live. Now that Jesus Christ has come to be our Sacrifice, He was the eternal Person who could pay our eternal debt to the eternal God in time, and rise from the tomb because Death had no authority over Him. Now we have received that eternal Life, the Life of God our Father; and when we are resurrected when Jesus returns, we will also be beings of Light, like our Father, like Jesus (see Revelation 1:16, His face shining like the sun).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Breathe In Grace, Breathe Out Mercy
Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret whenever men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
O my Father, help me! Teach me how to stop and take a breath in the heat of the moment when my emotions kick in instantly and I want to retaliate and strike back. Stop me from reacting, remind me to pause to breathe in Your Grace. Then I will be able to respond by breathing out Your Mercy upon those who are against me. Teach me how to maintain Your Peace and quietness in the midst of the turmoil.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret whenever men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
O my Father, help me! Teach me how to stop and take a breath in the heat of the moment when my emotions kick in instantly and I want to retaliate and strike back. Stop me from reacting, remind me to pause to breathe in Your Grace. Then I will be able to respond by breathing out Your Mercy upon those who are against me. Teach me how to maintain Your Peace and quietness in the midst of the turmoil.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Why Are There Poor People?
Deuteronomy 15:4-5, 7, 11
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites . . .
There will always be poor people in the land.
Moses is telling the people all the laws God is giving them to obey and follow in the good land they are entering into to dwell there. He knows that these laws are so just and comprehensive that if the people will only fully obey and always live their daily lives according to it, then the result would be that no one would be poor. Whenever we live according to God's rules, running this world in alignment with how God made it to work, then the result will be that we enjoy all the benefits and bountifulness that is here (there is no "shortage" of anything), and God receives the credit, as the Designer.
But Moses knew that these people were human, and would not always be faithful; allowing themselves to be deceived by all the distractions of the world and the pagans living among them. So there may be some poor; no, there would always be poor people among them.
And there will always be people in the world who are poor. That's one reason why every Christian is to "do the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5) in sharing God's Truth with the people whose lives touch ours: The Good News of Jesus' substitutionary death on the Cross and His Resurrection, conquering death, which will give them a new life; and His just and comprehensive rules for living that will inform them in how to live in alignment with how God designed this world that will result in receiving its abundance and prosperity. Then "there need be no poor people among you."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites . . .
There will always be poor people in the land.
Moses is telling the people all the laws God is giving them to obey and follow in the good land they are entering into to dwell there. He knows that these laws are so just and comprehensive that if the people will only fully obey and always live their daily lives according to it, then the result would be that no one would be poor. Whenever we live according to God's rules, running this world in alignment with how God made it to work, then the result will be that we enjoy all the benefits and bountifulness that is here (there is no "shortage" of anything), and God receives the credit, as the Designer.
But Moses knew that these people were human, and would not always be faithful; allowing themselves to be deceived by all the distractions of the world and the pagans living among them. So there may be some poor; no, there would always be poor people among them.
And there will always be people in the world who are poor. That's one reason why every Christian is to "do the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5) in sharing God's Truth with the people whose lives touch ours: The Good News of Jesus' substitutionary death on the Cross and His Resurrection, conquering death, which will give them a new life; and His just and comprehensive rules for living that will inform them in how to live in alignment with how God designed this world that will result in receiving its abundance and prosperity. Then "there need be no poor people among you."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 2, 2016
What Does God Ask Of Me?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today, for your own good?
God loves us so much that He's laid out for us all the details of how to have a good life, all our lives. When we admire and appreciate who God is, and understand His ways, then we will form our attitudes and thoughts in alignment with our environments of place and family. Then we will make decisions that will be good for our world and for our relationships, and we will get the benefits ("for your own good"), and God gets the glory, the credit, for planning it all out.
When I find that my world isn't going the way I want it to, or my relationships are strained or broken, I need to see and discern my own attitudes, thoughts and actions to understand where I have not "feared the Lord" or "walked in obedience" to whatever "commands and decrees" God has revealed to me from His word. Then I will know how to make amends for the wrongs I have perpetrated upon others to heal these relationships I have with both the people in my life and the environment in which I live.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today, for your own good?
God loves us so much that He's laid out for us all the details of how to have a good life, all our lives. When we admire and appreciate who God is, and understand His ways, then we will form our attitudes and thoughts in alignment with our environments of place and family. Then we will make decisions that will be good for our world and for our relationships, and we will get the benefits ("for your own good"), and God gets the glory, the credit, for planning it all out.
When I find that my world isn't going the way I want it to, or my relationships are strained or broken, I need to see and discern my own attitudes, thoughts and actions to understand where I have not "feared the Lord" or "walked in obedience" to whatever "commands and decrees" God has revealed to me from His word. Then I will know how to make amends for the wrongs I have perpetrated upon others to heal these relationships I have with both the people in my life and the environment in which I live.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 1, 2016
Barbs And Thorns
Numbers 33:55-56
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.
God knew that the inhabitants of Canaan had lived their lives against the good that God desires for His creation, and embraced darkness and evil instead. So God chose one particular nation to have His actual "rule book" to explain how to live in accordance with how God designed life to work in this world. He wanted this nation to be the example to teach other nations His goodness and how He prospers those who live in accordance with His ways. So He warned them, that if they allow these pagans to remain among them in the land, then they would learn their errant ways and do the things that bring destruction.
God always provides His Word for us to learn His ways, and whenever anyone, Hebrew or not, pays attention to Him and obeys His rules, then they will be sowing good seed in their lives, and reap the benefits and bountifulness God designed into His creation, and God gets the credit. But anyone who refuses His ways, or ignores His rules, doing something else instead; they will not be aligned with the way God designed this world to work, and will suffer the consequences of their poor choices. They will reap disease (dis-ease), poverty and brokenness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.
God knew that the inhabitants of Canaan had lived their lives against the good that God desires for His creation, and embraced darkness and evil instead. So God chose one particular nation to have His actual "rule book" to explain how to live in accordance with how God designed life to work in this world. He wanted this nation to be the example to teach other nations His goodness and how He prospers those who live in accordance with His ways. So He warned them, that if they allow these pagans to remain among them in the land, then they would learn their errant ways and do the things that bring destruction.
God always provides His Word for us to learn His ways, and whenever anyone, Hebrew or not, pays attention to Him and obeys His rules, then they will be sowing good seed in their lives, and reap the benefits and bountifulness God designed into His creation, and God gets the credit. But anyone who refuses His ways, or ignores His rules, doing something else instead; they will not be aligned with the way God designed this world to work, and will suffer the consequences of their poor choices. They will reap disease (dis-ease), poverty and brokenness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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