Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Tempoary Pause
So sorry, my computer is on the fritz, I'll continue to post daily, Lord willing, when it's fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Angry Nations
Psalm 2:1
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Jabez, "The Pain"
I Chronicles 4: 9-10
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 27, 2017
Who Is Your God?
Psalm 135:13
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
David's Humble Heart
I Chronicles 17: 16 ... 27
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? ... You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say to You ...? You know what Your servant is really like ... O Lord, there is no one like You ...!
O my Father God, You have shown me, in this prayer, a little of why You call David, "A man after My own heart"! (Acts 13:22, quoting from I Samuel 13:14)
May You also grant to me the same humble heart I see in David here, the same that Jesus demonstrated. May I continually display in my attitudes the true understanding that I am only dust, and You have honored me in seeing and knowing me, drawing me out of the mire, placing my feet securely on the Rock, causing me to be born into Your own Royal family, cleansing and healing me, and working in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure; to form in me, little by little, day by day, the very image, the character of Your Son, my Lord and King. And it is You Who as done it all! All honor and glory to You alone, my God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? ... You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say to You ...? You know what Your servant is really like ... O Lord, there is no one like You ...!
O my Father God, You have shown me, in this prayer, a little of why You call David, "A man after My own heart"! (Acts 13:22, quoting from I Samuel 13:14)
May You also grant to me the same humble heart I see in David here, the same that Jesus demonstrated. May I continually display in my attitudes the true understanding that I am only dust, and You have honored me in seeing and knowing me, drawing me out of the mire, placing my feet securely on the Rock, causing me to be born into Your own Royal family, cleansing and healing me, and working in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure; to form in me, little by little, day by day, the very image, the character of Your Son, my Lord and King. And it is You Who as done it all! All honor and glory to You alone, my God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Search Me
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my Father, my Guide, my Sustainer, search me and try me, and reveal to me all that does not please You, that falls short of Your perfection; expose these wounds to the cleansing and healing of Your Spirit, teach me how to deal with these ugly wounds to allow You to heal me. Teach me Your ways: Let me see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, think Your thoughts, say Your words; may my attitude be Your view, may my hands do Your work and my feet go where You lead, whether to the next room or to the other side of the World--that You would receive all the glory, all the credit and honor for all You have done in me, in this World, and in the whole created realm.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(May I pray this prayer every day!)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my Father, my Guide, my Sustainer, search me and try me, and reveal to me all that does not please You, that falls short of Your perfection; expose these wounds to the cleansing and healing of Your Spirit, teach me how to deal with these ugly wounds to allow You to heal me. Teach me Your ways: Let me see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, think Your thoughts, say Your words; may my attitude be Your view, may my hands do Your work and my feet go where You lead, whether to the next room or to the other side of the World--that You would receive all the glory, all the credit and honor for all You have done in me, in this World, and in the whole created realm.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(May I pray this prayer every day!)
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
What To Pray For
I Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
We need to be praying for our "king," the one in highest authority in our Nation, in our case in America, our President. And not only for him, but for all those he is gathering around him to assist him in his governing us. The prayers of God's people have caused God to lift this man into this lofty position, and he still needs our prayers for leading, guidance and protection so he can do his job in a good and righteous manner. Because . . .
Psalm 127: 1
... Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
It doesn't matter how strong our military is, without the Lord's watchfulness over us, we are vulnerable. We do need the strong military (speak softly and carry a big stick), but we need more to pray and ask God's protection.
Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Even when we are imprisoned in a foreign country, as Israel was carried off to Babylon, it is still our responsibility to pray for those in political authority over us. For our own good.
Psalm 9: 7-8
But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from His Throne. He will judge the World with justice and rule the Nations with fairness.
Until Jesus returns to sit on His Throne on this Earth, to judge and rule with true justice and fairness, our political leaders will need our prayers to strengthen them to have Godly discernment to recognize what would truly be good and right and just--for our own good.
Repeatedly, throughout the whole Old Testament, we are given the history that shows us that when the king is a Godly man, governing according to God's ways, then the people live in peace, prosperity and joy. But when the kings were evil, then the people also went astray, and they lost the prosperity, peace and joy and suffered under political oppression. The Nation Israel went through this cycle numerous times, over and over, but never learned from their history, and ended up deported to a distant foreign country.
In every Nation, we have seen how prosperity increases and decreases according to the policies of the authorities over us--when our leaders are Godly men and women, who follow God's ways in their personal lives and in their governing, then the people find it much easier to also live good lives in peacefulness and prosperity; but when our leaders are sinful, evil people in their personal lives, and ignore God in their governing, then the people also are more likely to be dishonest in their personal lives and business dealings. That is why we are instructed to pray for those who have political authority over us.
Jesus is coming soon, so we all need to be watchful in prayer for all those who are in authority over us. Our enemy, the devil, knows that his time is short, and is ramping up his efforts to deceive, destroy and kill, in the most pervasive ways possible. He has gotten control of our schools, many of our businesses, much of our government, and even many of our churches. We who know the Lord have the responsibility to be on our knees on behalf of our families, our neighborhoods, our cities and states, and our Nation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
We need to be praying for our "king," the one in highest authority in our Nation, in our case in America, our President. And not only for him, but for all those he is gathering around him to assist him in his governing us. The prayers of God's people have caused God to lift this man into this lofty position, and he still needs our prayers for leading, guidance and protection so he can do his job in a good and righteous manner. Because . . .
Psalm 127: 1
... Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
It doesn't matter how strong our military is, without the Lord's watchfulness over us, we are vulnerable. We do need the strong military (speak softly and carry a big stick), but we need more to pray and ask God's protection.
Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Even when we are imprisoned in a foreign country, as Israel was carried off to Babylon, it is still our responsibility to pray for those in political authority over us. For our own good.
Psalm 9: 7-8
But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from His Throne. He will judge the World with justice and rule the Nations with fairness.
Until Jesus returns to sit on His Throne on this Earth, to judge and rule with true justice and fairness, our political leaders will need our prayers to strengthen them to have Godly discernment to recognize what would truly be good and right and just--for our own good.
Repeatedly, throughout the whole Old Testament, we are given the history that shows us that when the king is a Godly man, governing according to God's ways, then the people live in peace, prosperity and joy. But when the kings were evil, then the people also went astray, and they lost the prosperity, peace and joy and suffered under political oppression. The Nation Israel went through this cycle numerous times, over and over, but never learned from their history, and ended up deported to a distant foreign country.
In every Nation, we have seen how prosperity increases and decreases according to the policies of the authorities over us--when our leaders are Godly men and women, who follow God's ways in their personal lives and in their governing, then the people find it much easier to also live good lives in peacefulness and prosperity; but when our leaders are sinful, evil people in their personal lives, and ignore God in their governing, then the people also are more likely to be dishonest in their personal lives and business dealings. That is why we are instructed to pray for those who have political authority over us.
Jesus is coming soon, so we all need to be watchful in prayer for all those who are in authority over us. Our enemy, the devil, knows that his time is short, and is ramping up his efforts to deceive, destroy and kill, in the most pervasive ways possible. He has gotten control of our schools, many of our businesses, much of our government, and even many of our churches. We who know the Lord have the responsibility to be on our knees on behalf of our families, our neighborhoods, our cities and states, and our Nation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 23, 2017
Words Of Truth
Acts 26: 22-23
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--that Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Proverbs 18:20
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
Paul's words in his won defense before Governor Festus and King Agrippa were very powerful, and would have brought the satisfaction of salvation, reconciliation with God to Agrippa, if he only would have accepted them.
O my Father, please fill me with Your Spirit of Truth, so that the words of my mouth would bring satisfaction and healing to others, and also to myself. That only Your words of Truth would be active in my life, removing any denial or rebellion in myself and restoring my soul, body and spirit to Yourself, and drawing others also to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--that Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Proverbs 18:20
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
Paul's words in his won defense before Governor Festus and King Agrippa were very powerful, and would have brought the satisfaction of salvation, reconciliation with God to Agrippa, if he only would have accepted them.
O my Father, please fill me with Your Spirit of Truth, so that the words of my mouth would bring satisfaction and healing to others, and also to myself. That only Your words of Truth would be active in my life, removing any denial or rebellion in myself and restoring my soul, body and spirit to Yourself, and drawing others also to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Great Joy Throughout The Land
I Chronicles 12:32
... These men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
May our new President and his team be men who understand the signs of the times today, to lead our Nation in the best course to take, as these men did in Israel at that time.
I Chronicles 12:40
... There was great joy throughout the land of Israel.
I witnessed great joy in our Capital at the Inauguration, and a returned hope that times will turn around for the good, back to the righteousness of Christ in this land, as our 45th President recognizes God and has the courage to name our enemies.
Psalm 9:19-20
Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere mortals defy You! Judge the nations! Make them tremble in fear, O Lord. Let the nations know they are merely human.
May our God arise in His servants in this new administration. May their personal and public holiness and discernment cause those who defy God to tremble in fear and know that they are not gods, but merely human.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... These men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
May our new President and his team be men who understand the signs of the times today, to lead our Nation in the best course to take, as these men did in Israel at that time.
I Chronicles 12:40
... There was great joy throughout the land of Israel.
I witnessed great joy in our Capital at the Inauguration, and a returned hope that times will turn around for the good, back to the righteousness of Christ in this land, as our 45th President recognizes God and has the courage to name our enemies.
Psalm 9:19-20
Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere mortals defy You! Judge the nations! Make them tremble in fear, O Lord. Let the nations know they are merely human.
May our God arise in His servants in this new administration. May their personal and public holiness and discernment cause those who defy God to tremble in fear and know that they are not gods, but merely human.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
A Little Lower Than God
Psalm 8:4-6
What are people that You should think about them, mere mortals that You should care for them? Yet You made them only a little lower than God (Elohim) and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority.
Compared to the Moon and Stars, we are as nothing, clods of dust, blown away by the breeze. Yet You have made us just a little lower than Elohim, and in such a high position, You have crowned us with honor and glory befitting this exalted rank.
You are refining us here on this Earth, teaching us to care for and use everything else You have put here in this World; and, like little schoolchildren, we stumble and scrape our knees and elbows, we fall and break bones. But You heal us, You lift us up so we won't utterly fall, and strengthen us to continue on, to learn all that You have to teach us, little by little, line upon line, day by day; until that glorious Day when Christ will return and we will have matured enough to wear well the honor and glory You crown us with, to return to Your own head, for You alone deserve all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You have done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
What are people that You should think about them, mere mortals that You should care for them? Yet You made them only a little lower than God (Elohim) and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority.
Compared to the Moon and Stars, we are as nothing, clods of dust, blown away by the breeze. Yet You have made us just a little lower than Elohim, and in such a high position, You have crowned us with honor and glory befitting this exalted rank.
You are refining us here on this Earth, teaching us to care for and use everything else You have put here in this World; and, like little schoolchildren, we stumble and scrape our knees and elbows, we fall and break bones. But You heal us, You lift us up so we won't utterly fall, and strengthen us to continue on, to learn all that You have to teach us, little by little, line upon line, day by day; until that glorious Day when Christ will return and we will have matured enough to wear well the honor and glory You crown us with, to return to Your own head, for You alone deserve all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You have done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 20, 2017
Safety In Peril
Psalm 3:3-5
But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, You are my glory, the One Who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
O my Father, You power and Your care for us allow us to experience Your peace to such a degree that David could lie down and sleep in the midst of danger, and sleep peacefully, waking up in safety. Only You, O Lord, could give such peace, for only You have the strength and care for us to give us safety in the midst of peril. Since David could trust You so completely that he could sleep peacefully, even though surrounded by enemies (led by his own son); so I can also trust You for safety no matter what troubles or perils surround me. Thank You, Father, for Your goodness and mercy to me, to mend, heal and cleanse me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, You are my glory, the One Who holds my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
O my Father, You power and Your care for us allow us to experience Your peace to such a degree that David could lie down and sleep in the midst of danger, and sleep peacefully, waking up in safety. Only You, O Lord, could give such peace, for only You have the strength and care for us to give us safety in the midst of peril. Since David could trust You so completely that he could sleep peacefully, even though surrounded by enemies (led by his own son); so I can also trust You for safety no matter what troubles or perils surround me. Thank You, Father, for Your goodness and mercy to me, to mend, heal and cleanse me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 19, 2017
The Atoning Sacrifice
Leviticus 1:1-5
The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it (he) will be acceptable to the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
God has had Moses supervise in building all the parts of the Tabernacle and its furnishings; now He is directing how the different parts of it are to be used.
He starts with the most basic and important of the offerings--the individual sacrifice for a person's sins. Mankind has known that sin requires a death, with blood shed, since the Lord God made garments for Adam and Eve from animal skins. Now God is institutionalizing this idea with specific rituals, so that His chosen people will understand and be constantly reminded of the fact that God requires purity to come into His Presence.
The Bronze Altar stood just inside the doorway in the outside curtain surrounding the courtyard to the Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting (God meeting with man). The only way an Israelite could approach God is in providing this sacrifice. The penitent would "lay his hand on the head of the" animal that would be the "burnt sacrifice," to lay his personal sins on the beast, which would be "accepted on his behalf" to die in his place, to atone for his sins, its blood covering over his sins by being sprinkled against all the sides of the altar.
Jesus said that He had not come to do away with The Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He fulfilled this part by coming in our human flesh to die our human death for us, in our place, individually; as this individual brought the lamb or bull, Jesus is God's Lamb, specifically (in the Greek), the Lamb set aside for sacrifice.
The blood of the animal could never take away sins, only cover them; Jesus' Blood was God's Blood, with infinite value, to actually take away our sins. Just as the penitent would put his hand on the head of the animal, we need to each figuratively "put our hand" on the Head of our Lamb, admitting that we deserve the death that we have earned (the "wages of sin"), and let Jesus take our place in being Crucified. This picture, Jesus' Crucifixion, is a demonstration of how God is offended and repulsed, and disgusted by our very sin nature, which Jesus carried on the Cross, the root and fountainhead of all our sins: "He Who had no sin, became sin, for us" (II Corinthians 5:21).
So if you have never realized that Jesus took your place on His Cross, then pray for God to grant you the gift of Saving Faith, for "it is by Grace you have been saved, through Faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God--not by works," not by anything we can do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Anything we do of ourselves cannot be accepted by God because it comes through our nature, and Ephesians 2:3 tells us that "we are by nature objects of wrath." That is how Jesus fulfilled this detail of The Law.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.
If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it (he) will be acceptable to the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
God has had Moses supervise in building all the parts of the Tabernacle and its furnishings; now He is directing how the different parts of it are to be used.
He starts with the most basic and important of the offerings--the individual sacrifice for a person's sins. Mankind has known that sin requires a death, with blood shed, since the Lord God made garments for Adam and Eve from animal skins. Now God is institutionalizing this idea with specific rituals, so that His chosen people will understand and be constantly reminded of the fact that God requires purity to come into His Presence.
The Bronze Altar stood just inside the doorway in the outside curtain surrounding the courtyard to the Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting (God meeting with man). The only way an Israelite could approach God is in providing this sacrifice. The penitent would "lay his hand on the head of the" animal that would be the "burnt sacrifice," to lay his personal sins on the beast, which would be "accepted on his behalf" to die in his place, to atone for his sins, its blood covering over his sins by being sprinkled against all the sides of the altar.
Jesus said that He had not come to do away with The Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He fulfilled this part by coming in our human flesh to die our human death for us, in our place, individually; as this individual brought the lamb or bull, Jesus is God's Lamb, specifically (in the Greek), the Lamb set aside for sacrifice.
The blood of the animal could never take away sins, only cover them; Jesus' Blood was God's Blood, with infinite value, to actually take away our sins. Just as the penitent would put his hand on the head of the animal, we need to each figuratively "put our hand" on the Head of our Lamb, admitting that we deserve the death that we have earned (the "wages of sin"), and let Jesus take our place in being Crucified. This picture, Jesus' Crucifixion, is a demonstration of how God is offended and repulsed, and disgusted by our very sin nature, which Jesus carried on the Cross, the root and fountainhead of all our sins: "He Who had no sin, became sin, for us" (II Corinthians 5:21).
So if you have never realized that Jesus took your place on His Cross, then pray for God to grant you the gift of Saving Faith, for "it is by Grace you have been saved, through Faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God--not by works," not by anything we can do (Ephesians 2:8-9). Anything we do of ourselves cannot be accepted by God because it comes through our nature, and Ephesians 2:3 tells us that "we are by nature objects of wrath." That is how Jesus fulfilled this detail of The Law.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Nothing Can Separate Us
Romans 8: 35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, (Psalm 44:22) "Yet for your sake we face death all day long; We are considered sheep to be slaughtered." Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
"Tribulation" -- trouble, problems, bad news.
"Anguish" -- sorrow, mourning, loss.
"Persecution" -- slander, attacks, imprisonment.
"Famine" -- not getting enough to eat.
"Nakedness" -- not having adequate clothing.
"Peril" -- danger.
"Sword" -- war.
"Death" -- dying.
"Life" -- living it.
"Angels" -- spirit beings, demons.
"Principalities" -- spiritual authorities.
"Things present" -- what is now.
"Things to come" -- anything in the future.
"Powers" -- strength or ability.
"Height" -- even on Mars, should we go there.
"Depth" -- nothing in the deeps of the oceans, or in hell.
"Any other creature" -- anything else that was created, anything that exists.
Nothing we could ever do, nothing that anyone or anything could ever do to us, nothing that could ever happen to us, nothing that exists now or ever will exist, could ever cause God's love for us to ever be less than His "agape" love He showers on us abundantly every moment of every day, that Jesus, God's Christ and our Lord, has demonstrated by His birth, death, and resurrection for us. We are secure!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, (Psalm 44:22) "Yet for your sake we face death all day long; We are considered sheep to be slaughtered." Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
"Tribulation" -- trouble, problems, bad news.
"Anguish" -- sorrow, mourning, loss.
"Persecution" -- slander, attacks, imprisonment.
"Famine" -- not getting enough to eat.
"Nakedness" -- not having adequate clothing.
"Peril" -- danger.
"Sword" -- war.
"Death" -- dying.
"Life" -- living it.
"Angels" -- spirit beings, demons.
"Principalities" -- spiritual authorities.
"Things present" -- what is now.
"Things to come" -- anything in the future.
"Powers" -- strength or ability.
"Height" -- even on Mars, should we go there.
"Depth" -- nothing in the deeps of the oceans, or in hell.
"Any other creature" -- anything else that was created, anything that exists.
Nothing we could ever do, nothing that anyone or anything could ever do to us, nothing that could ever happen to us, nothing that exists now or ever will exist, could ever cause God's love for us to ever be less than His "agape" love He showers on us abundantly every moment of every day, that Jesus, God's Christ and our Lord, has demonstrated by His birth, death, and resurrection for us. We are secure!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Preparation For What He Has Planned
Exodus 2:9
Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me and I shall give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.
Wow, Moses' own mother could have him back as a child, and was even paid, to care for and teach him about his own heritage as a Hebrew of the Tribe of Levi, and their God Who chose his ancestor Abraham. That's why, when he became an adult, Moses knew who he was: That he was adopted out of the Hebrew Nation into Pharaoh's family to be educated in all the learning of the Egyptians to be the next Pharaoh.
God took care of Moses, and prepared him with education, pomp and circumstance, and also with quiet pastoral training on the "far side of the desert." God knew the plans He had for Moses, and took His time in preparing him very meticulously for the role He had for him.
I don't ever want to complain about God's taking His time with me, either. I know He is preparing me for the eventual role He has planned for me. Just as Moses didn't know how his role would pan out until He actually led Israel from their slavery in Egypt; so I don't know how my life will flow when God deems me ready to live out and accomplish the plans He has for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me and I shall give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.
Wow, Moses' own mother could have him back as a child, and was even paid, to care for and teach him about his own heritage as a Hebrew of the Tribe of Levi, and their God Who chose his ancestor Abraham. That's why, when he became an adult, Moses knew who he was: That he was adopted out of the Hebrew Nation into Pharaoh's family to be educated in all the learning of the Egyptians to be the next Pharaoh.
God took care of Moses, and prepared him with education, pomp and circumstance, and also with quiet pastoral training on the "far side of the desert." God knew the plans He had for Moses, and took His time in preparing him very meticulously for the role He had for him.
I don't ever want to complain about God's taking His time with me, either. I know He is preparing me for the eventual role He has planned for me. Just as Moses didn't know how his role would pan out until He actually led Israel from their slavery in Egypt; so I don't know how my life will flow when God deems me ready to live out and accomplish the plans He has for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 16, 2017
His Government
Isaiah 9: 7
There will be no end to the increase of His government . . .
God's Kingdom, His government, is where He rules. Today He rules in our hearts, His Kingdom is within us.
When Jesus returns, He will set up His rule over the whole world, He will exercise His authority as King of the World.
When this Earth is no more, He will make a New Heaven and a New Earth, and we will reign with Him as His kings and queens. And His Kingdom will include the whole Universe.
That is as far as we are told. But even that is not the end--the increase of His Government will never end! What wonders await us then, and forever more?
I want to spend my life in this age preparing for this glorious future God has planned for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There will be no end to the increase of His government . . .
God's Kingdom, His government, is where He rules. Today He rules in our hearts, His Kingdom is within us.
When Jesus returns, He will set up His rule over the whole world, He will exercise His authority as King of the World.
When this Earth is no more, He will make a New Heaven and a New Earth, and we will reign with Him as His kings and queens. And His Kingdom will include the whole Universe.
That is as far as we are told. But even that is not the end--the increase of His Government will never end! What wonders await us then, and forever more?
I want to spend my life in this age preparing for this glorious future God has planned for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Life-Style And Godliness
II Timothy 2: 4-7
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday (civilian) life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Paul gives Timothy three very different and varied examples of life-styles: The Soldier, The Athlete, and The Farmer; demonstrating that the attitudes of graciousness, sound doctrine, obedience to the rules and patience, as well as discipline, self-control and perseverance under hardship, are all applicable to every life-style and mode of living.
The Fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 do not discriminate as to path of life. No matter if we live an active or sedentary life, whether our talents bring us into the arena or the library, the halls of government or the halls of academia, we are all to pursue sound Doctrine, obedience to that Doctrine, and always put God first.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday (civilian) life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Paul gives Timothy three very different and varied examples of life-styles: The Soldier, The Athlete, and The Farmer; demonstrating that the attitudes of graciousness, sound doctrine, obedience to the rules and patience, as well as discipline, self-control and perseverance under hardship, are all applicable to every life-style and mode of living.
The Fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23 do not discriminate as to path of life. No matter if we live an active or sedentary life, whether our talents bring us into the arena or the library, the halls of government or the halls of academia, we are all to pursue sound Doctrine, obedience to that Doctrine, and always put God first.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 14, 2017
All Will Worship
Psalm 148: 13
Let all of these praise the Lord's Name
Because only God's Name is high over all.
Only God's majesty is over Earth and Heaven.
"All these" are what verses 1 through 12 have been listing.
All in Heaven: His angelic messengers, His angelic military forces;
all that are in the Heaven of Space--all the stars, sun, moon, waters above the sky.
From the Earth: Sea monsters, ocean depths;
Weather: Fire, hail, snow, smoke, stormy wind that obeys Him.
All the geography: Mountains, hills, trees; all the animals; wild and tame and what creep along the ground and fly in the sky.
And all the people: from the Kings, princes and rulers down to the common who are old and young.
"All these," all of Creation, will one day "praise the Lord's Name." Most of these already bring glory to our Maker, by obediently doing what they were made to do. Only demons and Mankind choose to rebel against God's good rules for living in this age.
But when Jesus returns, all of the whole Creation--including Angelic beings who sinned and all of Mankind who refused God's offer of Salvation--will bend the knee and worship and praise Him Who is High over All, Whose Majesty is over Earth and Heaven. (See also Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; and Philippians 2:10-11.)
Are you now "bending the knee" and acknowledging that Jesus is Lord, the Lord God of the Old Testament, Who is the Creator and Lawgiver, and the Sacrificial Lamb of God Who took our place in Death so He could give us His Life, and will return soon to this Earth as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the King of the World? Or are you waiting for His return, to be compelled to admit the Truth of Who Jesus is and what He has done?
He is either your Savior or He will be your Judge, your choice. My prayer is if you have yet to choose to seek His Truth, and been led to acknowledge that He took Your place on the Cross, then may you now make this decision, no matter what you think it may cost you. Nothing is equal to the wonder and joy of knowing Him (not just knowing about Him). I will enjoy being the first to welcome you into God's own Family, after the Angels' party for you in Heaven.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let all of these praise the Lord's Name
Because only God's Name is high over all.
Only God's majesty is over Earth and Heaven.
"All these" are what verses 1 through 12 have been listing.
All in Heaven: His angelic messengers, His angelic military forces;
all that are in the Heaven of Space--all the stars, sun, moon, waters above the sky.
From the Earth: Sea monsters, ocean depths;
Weather: Fire, hail, snow, smoke, stormy wind that obeys Him.
All the geography: Mountains, hills, trees; all the animals; wild and tame and what creep along the ground and fly in the sky.
And all the people: from the Kings, princes and rulers down to the common who are old and young.
"All these," all of Creation, will one day "praise the Lord's Name." Most of these already bring glory to our Maker, by obediently doing what they were made to do. Only demons and Mankind choose to rebel against God's good rules for living in this age.
But when Jesus returns, all of the whole Creation--including Angelic beings who sinned and all of Mankind who refused God's offer of Salvation--will bend the knee and worship and praise Him Who is High over All, Whose Majesty is over Earth and Heaven. (See also Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; and Philippians 2:10-11.)
Are you now "bending the knee" and acknowledging that Jesus is Lord, the Lord God of the Old Testament, Who is the Creator and Lawgiver, and the Sacrificial Lamb of God Who took our place in Death so He could give us His Life, and will return soon to this Earth as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the King of the World? Or are you waiting for His return, to be compelled to admit the Truth of Who Jesus is and what He has done?
He is either your Savior or He will be your Judge, your choice. My prayer is if you have yet to choose to seek His Truth, and been led to acknowledge that He took Your place on the Cross, then may you now make this decision, no matter what you think it may cost you. Nothing is equal to the wonder and joy of knowing Him (not just knowing about Him). I will enjoy being the first to welcome you into God's own Family, after the Angels' party for you in Heaven.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 13, 2017
God's Reputation
II Kings 19: 14
After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out before the Lord.
God will always defend His own Name, His reputation. Hezekiah spread out before the Lord the whole letter, that equated the Lord God of Israel with all the idols that Sennacherib and his predecessors had conquered and destroyed. They did not realize that the Lord is the God Who created and sustains us all, and all those other gods, the idols, were not gods at all.
So God sent His prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that He heard his prayer, and was answering in such a way that Sennacherib would go down and be destroyed in a humiliating way, revealing God's power and authority. Because God will always defend His own reputation.
I must always remember that God's reputation is the only one I need to be concerned for, not necessarily my own. My own reputation is only important in relation to God's, as my life is to reflect God's goodness and glory.
May my life be an accurate testimony of God's character, in what He has done in my life, and wants to do in other lives, also.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out before the Lord.
God will always defend His own Name, His reputation. Hezekiah spread out before the Lord the whole letter, that equated the Lord God of Israel with all the idols that Sennacherib and his predecessors had conquered and destroyed. They did not realize that the Lord is the God Who created and sustains us all, and all those other gods, the idols, were not gods at all.
So God sent His prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that He heard his prayer, and was answering in such a way that Sennacherib would go down and be destroyed in a humiliating way, revealing God's power and authority. Because God will always defend His own reputation.
I must always remember that God's reputation is the only one I need to be concerned for, not necessarily my own. My own reputation is only important in relation to God's, as my life is to reflect God's goodness and glory.
May my life be an accurate testimony of God's character, in what He has done in my life, and wants to do in other lives, also.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 12, 2017
God's Thought List For Us
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, Here it is, dear family members; listen up now.
whatsoever is true, What conforms to the actual reality as God made it.
whatsoever is honorable, Principled, honest, ethical, noble.
whatever is right, Appropriate, proper, suitable, legitimate.
whatever is pure, Authentic, unadulterated, unmixed, genuine, clean.
whatever is lovely, Beautiful, charming, agreeable, graceful, pleasant.
whatever is of good repute, Good reputation, good character, moral, chaste modest.
if there is any excellence Greatness, perfection, good quality, virtue.
and if anything worthy of praise, Compliment, recognition, ovation, commendation, esteem.
let your mind dwell on these things.
This is God's "thought list" for us all. We are to focus on the positive, and let the negative fade into the background.
Will Durant said, "The mind is formed by what it takes in." Also, it is said, "You are what you eat." The food I eat is the building blocks of my body. My media consumption determines the state of my mind and heart.
What would change if I filtered my reading and watching through this list: is it true? honorable? right? pure? lovely? Does it have a good reputation? Is it excellent? worthy of praise?
If not, then why would I want to waste my time on it?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Finally, brethren, Here it is, dear family members; listen up now.
whatsoever is true, What conforms to the actual reality as God made it.
whatsoever is honorable, Principled, honest, ethical, noble.
whatever is right, Appropriate, proper, suitable, legitimate.
whatever is pure, Authentic, unadulterated, unmixed, genuine, clean.
whatever is lovely, Beautiful, charming, agreeable, graceful, pleasant.
whatever is of good repute, Good reputation, good character, moral, chaste modest.
if there is any excellence Greatness, perfection, good quality, virtue.
and if anything worthy of praise, Compliment, recognition, ovation, commendation, esteem.
let your mind dwell on these things.
This is God's "thought list" for us all. We are to focus on the positive, and let the negative fade into the background.
Will Durant said, "The mind is formed by what it takes in." Also, it is said, "You are what you eat." The food I eat is the building blocks of my body. My media consumption determines the state of my mind and heart.
What would change if I filtered my reading and watching through this list: is it true? honorable? right? pure? lovely? Does it have a good reputation? Is it excellent? worthy of praise?
If not, then why would I want to waste my time on it?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Isolationism
Proverbs 18:1
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
"An unfriendly man," isolationists, loners.
"pursues selfish ends," care only about themselves, are selfish.
"defies all sound judgment," lash out at common sense, rage against the common good.
When I isolate myself from others, I am deliberately ignoring their needs in favor of my own selfishness, defensiveness, self-pity. I make myself unavailable to God to be His hands to do His work, and His feet to go to others I am uniquely gifted to help. When I isolate I am robbing God's church of what God intends to channel through me.
O my Father, please teach me to hear Your quiet voice deep in my spirit, and obey instantly. Don't let me ignore it, or put it off until I forget. Please help me to come out of myself to be Your servant, focusing only on You and what You are telling me how to live my life. Continue to work in me and through me an on me, to make me more and more into the very image of Your dear Son. Thank you for already accepting me into Your beloved, as my Savior and Lord is.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
"An unfriendly man," isolationists, loners.
"pursues selfish ends," care only about themselves, are selfish.
"defies all sound judgment," lash out at common sense, rage against the common good.
When I isolate myself from others, I am deliberately ignoring their needs in favor of my own selfishness, defensiveness, self-pity. I make myself unavailable to God to be His hands to do His work, and His feet to go to others I am uniquely gifted to help. When I isolate I am robbing God's church of what God intends to channel through me.
O my Father, please teach me to hear Your quiet voice deep in my spirit, and obey instantly. Don't let me ignore it, or put it off until I forget. Please help me to come out of myself to be Your servant, focusing only on You and what You are telling me how to live my life. Continue to work in me and through me an on me, to make me more and more into the very image of Your dear Son. Thank you for already accepting me into Your beloved, as my Savior and Lord is.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Procrastination
James 4: 17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
This is procrastination. I think we all may be guilty of this "falling short." How many times have I known I need to do something, then put it off. I have been the "queen of excuses." I have an excuse for everybody, no matter what they've done, I can think of some excuse for why they did it. But I also "explain away" a lot of the wrongs I've been guilty of.
I have decided to have no more excuses for what I've not done that I could. I have determined to listen to God's whispers and nudges, and not discount them as my imagination.
I still refuse to judge others harshly, but still excuse them, so they can have another chance to do right. I can do this because I am not responsible for others, and I am to love mercy. I will let the Maker and Lawgiver mete out whatever disciplines will bring them back to Him; or the judgments He knows they deserve.
O my Father, let me hear Your voice and recognize it, and obey instantly. I know this will not be easy for me, but I trust You, and I trust Your Spirit in me that communicates so gently with my spirit. Strengthen me, Father, to always love and serve You with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
This is procrastination. I think we all may be guilty of this "falling short." How many times have I known I need to do something, then put it off. I have been the "queen of excuses." I have an excuse for everybody, no matter what they've done, I can think of some excuse for why they did it. But I also "explain away" a lot of the wrongs I've been guilty of.
I have decided to have no more excuses for what I've not done that I could. I have determined to listen to God's whispers and nudges, and not discount them as my imagination.
I still refuse to judge others harshly, but still excuse them, so they can have another chance to do right. I can do this because I am not responsible for others, and I am to love mercy. I will let the Maker and Lawgiver mete out whatever disciplines will bring them back to Him; or the judgments He knows they deserve.
O my Father, let me hear Your voice and recognize it, and obey instantly. I know this will not be easy for me, but I trust You, and I trust Your Spirit in me that communicates so gently with my spirit. Strengthen me, Father, to always love and serve You with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 9, 2017
Wisdom
James 3: 17-18
But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure.
Pure: not alloyed; clean; not mixed with anything.
It is also peace-loving,
To love peace is to appreciate the quietness that comes from not meddling in others' lives, and allowing them their own choices; and not letting them meddle in our lives, either: Live and let live.
gentle at all times,
Not harsh or loud or brash.
and willing to yield to others.
Considering others' preferences as having priority over our own preferences.
It is full of mercy
God's mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve; when we have mercy on others, we also are not considering the negative they deserve, but granting them another chance to do right.
and good deeds.
Good deeds would be those that God had planned before time for us to do in the power of His Holy Spirit Who lives in us.
It shows no partiality
Completely just and fair, not influenced by a bribe or favor.
and is always sincere.
Honest, transparent, with integrity.
And those who are peacemakers
Those who do the work of promoting peace where it is needed.
will plant seeds of peace
Will lay a foundation that others can build on to promote more peacefulness.
and reap a harvest of goodness.
Goodness: everything that is good in every area of living.
God's wisdom is how He built this world, and He designed it to run on Love--His love for us and ours for one another. This is a list of some of the qualities of His wisdom, as practiced faithfully by us toward one another. The more we can be like God, and live our lives according to His character, then the more we will reap a harvest of blessing in this life, and spend eternity with Him as His children who display our Parent's traits.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure.
Pure: not alloyed; clean; not mixed with anything.
It is also peace-loving,
To love peace is to appreciate the quietness that comes from not meddling in others' lives, and allowing them their own choices; and not letting them meddle in our lives, either: Live and let live.
gentle at all times,
Not harsh or loud or brash.
and willing to yield to others.
Considering others' preferences as having priority over our own preferences.
It is full of mercy
God's mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve; when we have mercy on others, we also are not considering the negative they deserve, but granting them another chance to do right.
and good deeds.
Good deeds would be those that God had planned before time for us to do in the power of His Holy Spirit Who lives in us.
It shows no partiality
Completely just and fair, not influenced by a bribe or favor.
and is always sincere.
Honest, transparent, with integrity.
And those who are peacemakers
Those who do the work of promoting peace where it is needed.
will plant seeds of peace
Will lay a foundation that others can build on to promote more peacefulness.
and reap a harvest of goodness.
Goodness: everything that is good in every area of living.
God's wisdom is how He built this world, and He designed it to run on Love--His love for us and ours for one another. This is a list of some of the qualities of His wisdom, as practiced faithfully by us toward one another. The more we can be like God, and live our lives according to His character, then the more we will reap a harvest of blessing in this life, and spend eternity with Him as His children who display our Parent's traits.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Fickle Crowds
Acts 14: 18-19
But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them [as Zeus and Hermes]. Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
How fickle are the crowds! How easily they are fooled and swayed! Paul could hardly restrain them from considering him a god to be worshiped, and in the very next verse they stone him! From one extreme to the other, the crowds of people are worked up passionately. O that they would be passionate toward God! Then they would have a more reasonable view of God's servants, and avoid the extremes.
When we pay attention to the crowds, we will almost always be led astray, like these crowds. May we be strong in our knowledge of God's Word, and follow it in our thinking, our attitudes, and our daily lives.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them [as Zeus and Hermes]. Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
How fickle are the crowds! How easily they are fooled and swayed! Paul could hardly restrain them from considering him a god to be worshiped, and in the very next verse they stone him! From one extreme to the other, the crowds of people are worked up passionately. O that they would be passionate toward God! Then they would have a more reasonable view of God's servants, and avoid the extremes.
When we pay attention to the crowds, we will almost always be led astray, like these crowds. May we be strong in our knowledge of God's Word, and follow it in our thinking, our attitudes, and our daily lives.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
No Pleasure In Death
Ezekiel 18: 23, 32
"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. ... I don't want you to die," says the Sovereign Lord. "Turn back and live!"
Isaiah 33: 11
"As surely as I live," says the Sovereign Lord, "I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
God does not want any to perish, He takes no pleasure in having to destroy anyone. He made us with the capacity to live forever with Him, and He wants us to be with Him. But He cannot live in the presence of what is against who He is. Wickedness is anything that does not align with God's goodness, His wisdom, His love. So He has provided the remedy for our human nature tending to wander from Him -- He puts His own Holy Spirit in us to live in us and teach us to be the people He made us to be. By sacrificing His own Lamb to die in our place, we don't have to die any more, we can depend on Him and trust Him to have paid our whole debt.
Let us all, who are called by His Name, begin this New Year living that New Life He has placed within us in His mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. ... I don't want you to die," says the Sovereign Lord. "Turn back and live!"
Isaiah 33: 11
"As surely as I live," says the Sovereign Lord, "I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
God does not want any to perish, He takes no pleasure in having to destroy anyone. He made us with the capacity to live forever with Him, and He wants us to be with Him. But He cannot live in the presence of what is against who He is. Wickedness is anything that does not align with God's goodness, His wisdom, His love. So He has provided the remedy for our human nature tending to wander from Him -- He puts His own Holy Spirit in us to live in us and teach us to be the people He made us to be. By sacrificing His own Lamb to die in our place, we don't have to die any more, we can depend on Him and trust Him to have paid our whole debt.
Let us all, who are called by His Name, begin this New Year living that New Life He has placed within us in His mercy and grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Make Every Effort
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone
Here is where we need to extend every effort. As far as it lies with us, to the extent of our ability and responsibility, we are to get along with one another.
We are all still human, and we still err in our relationships with one another. We may be insensitive to another's sensibilities and wound them. We may thoughtlessly give voice to some stray fact or opinion that offends a hearer. We may even do something in our pride or arrogance that harms someone else.
If so, then we need to make amends; apologize, restore what was lost, do whatever we can in love to bring back that wounded brother or sister. Whatever is in our power to do.
Or we may have overstepped our boundaries and invaded another's personal space, their right to make their own choices in their lives. We like to be a god to another, thinking that we know better than they do what would be good for them. This injures their personhood before God, and robs them of their responsibilities.
May we all ask our dear Father what He would have us do and say, before we try to approach the wounded one. Sometimes we do everything we can, and the injured brother or sister still will not reconcile with us. That also is their choice. In that case, the only thing we can do to not further aggravate them is to pray that God will draw them to Himself and teach them His ways. And whether or not we ever reconcile will be up to our loving Father, in His time and in His way.
We know that God's ways are best, even when we are not able to fathom what He's doing now in our lives. We make our plans, but He leads our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
So let us all plan out how our lives will go, but be open to His detours and side-trips on the way, trusting Him with our lives, our plans, our relationships and our accomplishments.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone
Here is where we need to extend every effort. As far as it lies with us, to the extent of our ability and responsibility, we are to get along with one another.
We are all still human, and we still err in our relationships with one another. We may be insensitive to another's sensibilities and wound them. We may thoughtlessly give voice to some stray fact or opinion that offends a hearer. We may even do something in our pride or arrogance that harms someone else.
If so, then we need to make amends; apologize, restore what was lost, do whatever we can in love to bring back that wounded brother or sister. Whatever is in our power to do.
Or we may have overstepped our boundaries and invaded another's personal space, their right to make their own choices in their lives. We like to be a god to another, thinking that we know better than they do what would be good for them. This injures their personhood before God, and robs them of their responsibilities.
May we all ask our dear Father what He would have us do and say, before we try to approach the wounded one. Sometimes we do everything we can, and the injured brother or sister still will not reconcile with us. That also is their choice. In that case, the only thing we can do to not further aggravate them is to pray that God will draw them to Himself and teach them His ways. And whether or not we ever reconcile will be up to our loving Father, in His time and in His way.
We know that God's ways are best, even when we are not able to fathom what He's doing now in our lives. We make our plans, but He leads our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
So let us all plan out how our lives will go, but be open to His detours and side-trips on the way, trusting Him with our lives, our plans, our relationships and our accomplishments.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 6, 2017
Encouraging One Another
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
"How we may spur one another on." I hope that with this blog I am able to "put the spurs in," as the rider does the horse, "toward love and good works." My prayer for each of you, dear readers, that the words God gives me to post here may poke at you, as the "pricks" Saul kicked against in Acts 6:5 (KJV).
"Toward love and good works." Love for God, and the agape love God has for us, given to one another; then what we do, our "good works," will be in the power of His Spirit in us, beneficial for one another and acceptable to God, for which He will reward us.
"Not giving up meeting together." I appreciate that you come online to my blog, but this is only a personal devotion, between you and God. Please do not let it become a substitute for attending a local congregation, where you can get to know other believers in our precious faith, seeing how you can minister to them according to their needs that you are competent to meet--the "good works."
"As some are in the habit of doing." Some Christians, sad to say, refuse to find a church congregation to join themselves to, thinking that solitary communion with God and online connection satisfies this need. But if we do not meet face-to-face, how can we fulfill this Law of Love?
"Encouraging one another." Meeting together in person regularly is the way God intended for us to "be Christ" to one another. He wants to be with us, to have us with Him, and we also need one another. This is how we can best encourage one another, give one another courage to face life and live the holy life God intends for us.
"And all the more as you see the Day approaching." This Day is when Jesus will return to this Earth to reign as King of the World for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-7). The signs of the Last Days have been manifesting ever since Jesus ascended into Heaven, but never before have all the signs been present at the same time, as it is today. Jesus is coming soon. How much do we want to be ready to meet Him in the air, in the clouds, and not be ashamed of anything about our lives before Him? God has given us one another, and like all the coals in a fire glow hot together, we must continue to meet together. When a coal is separated from the hearth, it may glow for a while, but will go cold. Put it back into the fire, and it will come back to life again, glowing with the others.
So let us all obey the commands we are given, follow the rules set down, live our lives according to the loving character of our Father in Heaven, through His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord; then we will experience the benefits of cooperating with how God designed this World to work, and we will be ready for His coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
"How we may spur one another on." I hope that with this blog I am able to "put the spurs in," as the rider does the horse, "toward love and good works." My prayer for each of you, dear readers, that the words God gives me to post here may poke at you, as the "pricks" Saul kicked against in Acts 6:5 (KJV).
"Toward love and good works." Love for God, and the agape love God has for us, given to one another; then what we do, our "good works," will be in the power of His Spirit in us, beneficial for one another and acceptable to God, for which He will reward us.
"Not giving up meeting together." I appreciate that you come online to my blog, but this is only a personal devotion, between you and God. Please do not let it become a substitute for attending a local congregation, where you can get to know other believers in our precious faith, seeing how you can minister to them according to their needs that you are competent to meet--the "good works."
"As some are in the habit of doing." Some Christians, sad to say, refuse to find a church congregation to join themselves to, thinking that solitary communion with God and online connection satisfies this need. But if we do not meet face-to-face, how can we fulfill this Law of Love?
"Encouraging one another." Meeting together in person regularly is the way God intended for us to "be Christ" to one another. He wants to be with us, to have us with Him, and we also need one another. This is how we can best encourage one another, give one another courage to face life and live the holy life God intends for us.
"And all the more as you see the Day approaching." This Day is when Jesus will return to this Earth to reign as King of the World for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-7). The signs of the Last Days have been manifesting ever since Jesus ascended into Heaven, but never before have all the signs been present at the same time, as it is today. Jesus is coming soon. How much do we want to be ready to meet Him in the air, in the clouds, and not be ashamed of anything about our lives before Him? God has given us one another, and like all the coals in a fire glow hot together, we must continue to meet together. When a coal is separated from the hearth, it may glow for a while, but will go cold. Put it back into the fire, and it will come back to life again, glowing with the others.
So let us all obey the commands we are given, follow the rules set down, live our lives according to the loving character of our Father in Heaven, through His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord; then we will experience the benefits of cooperating with how God designed this World to work, and we will be ready for His coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
The Joy Set Before Him
Hebrews 12:2
For the joy set before Him He endured the cross.
What was that joy?
John 17:24
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.
So Jesus endured death on a cross so that we could be with Him. Wow! That's how much He loves us, how much He likes our company and wants to spend time with us, to be with us; and for us to be with Him, enjoying all His glory, all His authority, all the exciting adventures He has planned to enjoy with us throughout all eternity!
I cannot imagine all He has planned to do with us when this time is completed. Our God is the most imaginative Being, having created such a variety of multitudinous objects and beings, everything different from everything else. Even life on this Earth is exciting, when we see with His eyes. How much more enjoyable and fulfilling will our lives be when we are in His very presence, aware of His glorious Being, participating in all the wondrous activities He has in mind for us, what He created us for, just perfect for each one of us.
No matter what happens in the meantime, no matter how the world and the devil and the devil's slaves will persecute, slander and martyr us, none of it will be even comparable to the glory we will experience soon (Romans 8:18). This is our hope; not a wishing of "I hope so," but a settled knowing as fact that what God has promised, He will never fail to do. And He has not appointed us to wrath, so when His wrath falls on those who reject His gift, they may fall at our right and our left, but will not touch us (Psalm 91:7-8). This is amazing. God is amazing.
Let us all be strong in the Lord, and keep in mind our tremendous value and worth to God our Creator, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), gaining strength from His Spirit living in us to "throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1). Then we will be able to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:2), and withstand all that the world will throw at us in these the Last Days.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For the joy set before Him He endured the cross.
What was that joy?
John 17:24
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am.
So Jesus endured death on a cross so that we could be with Him. Wow! That's how much He loves us, how much He likes our company and wants to spend time with us, to be with us; and for us to be with Him, enjoying all His glory, all His authority, all the exciting adventures He has planned to enjoy with us throughout all eternity!
I cannot imagine all He has planned to do with us when this time is completed. Our God is the most imaginative Being, having created such a variety of multitudinous objects and beings, everything different from everything else. Even life on this Earth is exciting, when we see with His eyes. How much more enjoyable and fulfilling will our lives be when we are in His very presence, aware of His glorious Being, participating in all the wondrous activities He has in mind for us, what He created us for, just perfect for each one of us.
No matter what happens in the meantime, no matter how the world and the devil and the devil's slaves will persecute, slander and martyr us, none of it will be even comparable to the glory we will experience soon (Romans 8:18). This is our hope; not a wishing of "I hope so," but a settled knowing as fact that what God has promised, He will never fail to do. And He has not appointed us to wrath, so when His wrath falls on those who reject His gift, they may fall at our right and our left, but will not touch us (Psalm 91:7-8). This is amazing. God is amazing.
Let us all be strong in the Lord, and keep in mind our tremendous value and worth to God our Creator, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), gaining strength from His Spirit living in us to "throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles" (Hebrews 12:1). Then we will be able to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:2), and withstand all that the world will throw at us in these the Last Days.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
To Heal Our Land, Updated
II Chronicles 7: 14-15
If My people will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
O my dear Father in Heaven, please have those of Your own to humble ourselves before You, examine our own hearts, and work on that one besetting sin that is the part of our character we know is not of You. Let us pray, asking You for Your strength and power to have victory over that character defect, to let You mold us further into the very image of Your Son. Let us turn from any way in our thinking, our attitudes or our habits that draw us away from You.
And please let our new President be Your Asa to tear down all the altars to the heathen gods and bring Your righteousness back to this great Land that was founded upon Your good principles. Protect him, teach him Your ways, and let him bring us back to our inspired Constitution. May we all bring Your righteousness back from the grassroots up and from the top down, confessing our wrongs. And forgive us, Lord, in Your mercies that are new every morning, and heal this Land, to again be that City on a Hill.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
If My people will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
O my dear Father in Heaven, please have those of Your own to humble ourselves before You, examine our own hearts, and work on that one besetting sin that is the part of our character we know is not of You. Let us pray, asking You for Your strength and power to have victory over that character defect, to let You mold us further into the very image of Your Son. Let us turn from any way in our thinking, our attitudes or our habits that draw us away from You.
And please let our new President be Your Asa to tear down all the altars to the heathen gods and bring Your righteousness back to this great Land that was founded upon Your good principles. Protect him, teach him Your ways, and let him bring us back to our inspired Constitution. May we all bring Your righteousness back from the grassroots up and from the top down, confessing our wrongs. And forgive us, Lord, in Your mercies that are new every morning, and heal this Land, to again be that City on a Hill.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Another Opportunity
James 4:7
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
Just as the string holds the kite up on the wind, so our constraints in our troubles and sorrows keep us aloft and hold us up. Our winds of adversity are given to us to draw us nearer to God. So I need to change my views of the troubles and aggravations and interruptions of life, resist the Devil and my own flesh, and thank God for another opportunity to depend on Him.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
Just as the string holds the kite up on the wind, so our constraints in our troubles and sorrows keep us aloft and hold us up. Our winds of adversity are given to us to draw us nearer to God. So I need to change my views of the troubles and aggravations and interruptions of life, resist the Devil and my own flesh, and thank God for another opportunity to depend on Him.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 2, 2017
No Drifting
Psalm 141: 3-4
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don't let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.
O my Father, I pray that as I take Your hand, You will not let go! Lead me in the path You have set before me, straight and true, not turning to the right-hand nor to the left, not pulling away in rebellion, or wandering off the path in my inattention and isolation.
Hide me in the cleft of the Rock, which is Christ, and cover me with Your hand, that others seeing me would not see my flesh or hear my words, which push them away, but that they would see only You, hear Your words of kindness and compassion, and be drawn to You.
Let this new year bring me around the corner that I cannot see from here, into the next stage of my journey in this world. Hedge me in, Father, on that Narrow Path in which You have set my feet, that wanders throughout the Earth, to the people who are in need of Your message. May Your protection be above, below, behind, before, to my left, to my right, and all around me, every moment of every day, as I seek to serve You by meeting the needs of Your least in the Kingdom as I walk these lands; until I meet my Lord, my Husband, my King, in the clouds of His coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don't let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.
O my Father, I pray that as I take Your hand, You will not let go! Lead me in the path You have set before me, straight and true, not turning to the right-hand nor to the left, not pulling away in rebellion, or wandering off the path in my inattention and isolation.
Hide me in the cleft of the Rock, which is Christ, and cover me with Your hand, that others seeing me would not see my flesh or hear my words, which push them away, but that they would see only You, hear Your words of kindness and compassion, and be drawn to You.
Let this new year bring me around the corner that I cannot see from here, into the next stage of my journey in this world. Hedge me in, Father, on that Narrow Path in which You have set my feet, that wanders throughout the Earth, to the people who are in need of Your message. May Your protection be above, below, behind, before, to my left, to my right, and all around me, every moment of every day, as I seek to serve You by meeting the needs of Your least in the Kingdom as I walk these lands; until I meet my Lord, my Husband, my King, in the clouds of His coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Happy New Year!
II Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
Personal representatives of Christ Jesus in an official capacity.
as though God were entreating through us;
Just like God is the One pleading with you.
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
We are begging you, imploring you, please, as though Christ Jesus is asking you.
be reconciled to God.
Change yourself, your attitudes, your beliefs, to agree with God's character and God's Truth. When I reconcile my checkbook to my bank statement, I don't ask the bank to change, I change my checkbook to agree with the Bank.
He made Him, Who knew no sin, to be sin
God the Father caused God the Son to actually bear our sin-nature that three hours on the Cross that the sun did not shine. Jesus was born as a human in order to be able to die our human death. He did not die for certain sins, but He carried the whole basket, and everything in it. His Blood had enough value to purchase all of Creation, which makes Him the rightful judge of us all.
on our behalf
For us, in our place, as the penitent would bring the animal to the priest, laying his hands on the head of the beast conferring his sin onto the animal, which then died in his place in sacrifice. Jesus is our Sacrifice, not just covering, but actually taking away our sins forever, for each one of us. The wages of sin is death, and He took that death for each one of us. That's how much He loves me and you.
That we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Just as Jesus became sin, not just some, but the very root and fountainhead of all our sins, small and great; so we might become, not definitely will, but might if we recognize that, as having sinned, we deserve the death we've earned, and let Jesus die in our place; then we can actually be, not just have, God's very righteousness. This is amazing to me, it boggles my mind.
And working together with Him,
Again, cooperating with God in His plans and His ways.
we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--
God really doesn't want you to take His grace for granted.
For He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the Day of Salvation I helped you" (Isaiah 49:8 Septuagint);
God says that He would listen to our requests and would help us at a time He will accept, and a Day that He would provide Salvation.
behold, now is the "acceptable time," behold, now is the "Day of Salvation."
"Look, right now is the right time, see, today is when you can be saved!"
Today is a new beginning, the first day of this New Year of 2017. My prayer is that we all can begin this new year with new life, God's life living inside our own bodies, His Holy Spirit making our own dead spirit alive.
Then it will really be a New Year! A fresh start, not held back by any of the things that have ever held us back before. With a new, unshakable faith, a trust that is invincible in our Lord God, Jesus Christ, and our Father in Heaven.
Happy New Year!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
Personal representatives of Christ Jesus in an official capacity.
as though God were entreating through us;
Just like God is the One pleading with you.
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
We are begging you, imploring you, please, as though Christ Jesus is asking you.
be reconciled to God.
Change yourself, your attitudes, your beliefs, to agree with God's character and God's Truth. When I reconcile my checkbook to my bank statement, I don't ask the bank to change, I change my checkbook to agree with the Bank.
He made Him, Who knew no sin, to be sin
God the Father caused God the Son to actually bear our sin-nature that three hours on the Cross that the sun did not shine. Jesus was born as a human in order to be able to die our human death. He did not die for certain sins, but He carried the whole basket, and everything in it. His Blood had enough value to purchase all of Creation, which makes Him the rightful judge of us all.
on our behalf
For us, in our place, as the penitent would bring the animal to the priest, laying his hands on the head of the beast conferring his sin onto the animal, which then died in his place in sacrifice. Jesus is our Sacrifice, not just covering, but actually taking away our sins forever, for each one of us. The wages of sin is death, and He took that death for each one of us. That's how much He loves me and you.
That we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Just as Jesus became sin, not just some, but the very root and fountainhead of all our sins, small and great; so we might become, not definitely will, but might if we recognize that, as having sinned, we deserve the death we've earned, and let Jesus die in our place; then we can actually be, not just have, God's very righteousness. This is amazing to me, it boggles my mind.
And working together with Him,
Again, cooperating with God in His plans and His ways.
we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--
God really doesn't want you to take His grace for granted.
For He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the Day of Salvation I helped you" (Isaiah 49:8 Septuagint);
God says that He would listen to our requests and would help us at a time He will accept, and a Day that He would provide Salvation.
behold, now is the "acceptable time," behold, now is the "Day of Salvation."
"Look, right now is the right time, see, today is when you can be saved!"
Today is a new beginning, the first day of this New Year of 2017. My prayer is that we all can begin this new year with new life, God's life living inside our own bodies, His Holy Spirit making our own dead spirit alive.
Then it will really be a New Year! A fresh start, not held back by any of the things that have ever held us back before. With a new, unshakable faith, a trust that is invincible in our Lord God, Jesus Christ, and our Father in Heaven.
Happy New Year!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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