Psalm 37: 23-24
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
II Corinthians 4: 8-9
We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
God loves what He created, and He made us to live with Him where He is. So He sent His own Son to take our place in the death we all deserve because of sin, so that He could redeem us from ourselves and save us from that sinfulness that constantly pursues us.
So in this world we will experience sorrow, and all the other things enumerated in these verses, but our Father will never abandon us, not allow us to fall, be crushed, or be destroyed, holding us in His loving, powerful, shielding hand.
All these things He does allow, though, in order to teach us how to be like Him, and to grow our characters into godly people.
He does all this because He loves us so much, more than we can fathom.
O my Father, You truly are the Great God of the Universe! You made it all and You hold all of everything in Your hand, the whole huge Universe. You are also infinitely small, so that You direct the very atoms and molecules of life, and the smallest, most insignificant details, using them all to further Your great Plan to fulfill all Your purposes.
You hold me in Your hand and direct the circumstances of my life to mold and shape my character into the image of Your dear Son, my Lord, and the accomplishment of Your purposes for my life, that will bring all the credit, all the glory and honor to You Who alone deserves all the glory. And it also turns out to be the very best for me and for those I love.
O Father, You are so wise, so smart, and so loving and powerful to work all things, from the minute to the grandiose, all in perfect harmony, to accomplish all You desire to the very end.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Our Strong Fortress
Psalm 37: 39-40
The Lord rescues the Godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him.
II Samuel 22: 2-4
He [David] said, " The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior--from violent men You save me. I call to the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."
Every time King David talks about God being his Fortress, he uses the same word, matsuwd, meaning "castle, fortress, stronghold." This is a place where someone can be protected and defended from all enemies, where the ancient peoples would bring all the women and children to keep them safe in wartime.
God is our place of refuge and protection. We can run to Him and be safe as He protects us from our enemies, fighting our battles for us.
O my dear Father, You alone are the Great God of the Universe, the Lord over all the Heavenly Hosts. I run to You as my strong castle and fortress. I am nothing without You. Please keep me mindful of Your presence with me, Your closeness with me, each moment of each day. Give me Your strength and courage to lean on You, not my own flesh, moment-by-moment, day-by-day, as You fight my battles.
Teach me to rely on Your wisdom and Your patience and Your gentleness and love, that I may be so transparent that I disappear, and You are seen instead. Help me to be so invisible in Your stronghold that when others look upon me they may see only You.
Then You will get the victory, and all the credit for everything that is done will go to You, and You will receive all the praise, all the glory and honor throughout all eternity for what You are doing today in my life and in this World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Lord rescues the Godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him.
II Samuel 22: 2-4
He [David] said, " The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior--from violent men You save me. I call to the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."
Every time King David talks about God being his Fortress, he uses the same word, matsuwd, meaning "castle, fortress, stronghold." This is a place where someone can be protected and defended from all enemies, where the ancient peoples would bring all the women and children to keep them safe in wartime.
God is our place of refuge and protection. We can run to Him and be safe as He protects us from our enemies, fighting our battles for us.
O my dear Father, You alone are the Great God of the Universe, the Lord over all the Heavenly Hosts. I run to You as my strong castle and fortress. I am nothing without You. Please keep me mindful of Your presence with me, Your closeness with me, each moment of each day. Give me Your strength and courage to lean on You, not my own flesh, moment-by-moment, day-by-day, as You fight my battles.
Teach me to rely on Your wisdom and Your patience and Your gentleness and love, that I may be so transparent that I disappear, and You are seen instead. Help me to be so invisible in Your stronghold that when others look upon me they may see only You.
Then You will get the victory, and all the credit for everything that is done will go to You, and You will receive all the praise, all the glory and honor throughout all eternity for what You are doing today in my life and in this World.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, September 28, 2017
The Mirror's Reflection
Exodus 38: 8
Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
We use mirrors to view our own reflections. God had the washbasin made from mirrors. So, when I see my faults, failures, and imperfections in the mirror of the Word, then I am to immediately "wash up" by confessing and cleaning up my life, accepting God's forgiveness and cleansing, and forgiving myself.
I don't want to be like the man who beheld his image in a mirror, then went on, forgetting what manner of man he was (see James 1:23-24).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
We use mirrors to view our own reflections. God had the washbasin made from mirrors. So, when I see my faults, failures, and imperfections in the mirror of the Word, then I am to immediately "wash up" by confessing and cleaning up my life, accepting God's forgiveness and cleansing, and forgiving myself.
I don't want to be like the man who beheld his image in a mirror, then went on, forgetting what manner of man he was (see James 1:23-24).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Leaders And Slaves
Matthew 20: 26-28
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.
O my Father, it is only my sinful flesh that leads me to desire to be a leader. I want to grow my character to be more like Jesus, Who came only to serve and to give away His life.
Show me, Father, how I can give my life away to serve others, and please don't let me get in the way of Your working in and through me to benefit others' lives.
I praise You and thank You for the promise that You began this good work in me, and You will continue to perform it until I am perfected on the Day my King returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.
O my Father, it is only my sinful flesh that leads me to desire to be a leader. I want to grow my character to be more like Jesus, Who came only to serve and to give away His life.
Show me, Father, how I can give my life away to serve others, and please don't let me get in the way of Your working in and through me to benefit others' lives.
I praise You and thank You for the promise that You began this good work in me, and You will continue to perform it until I am perfected on the Day my King returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
From Clay To Diamonds
Jeremiah 18: 1-6
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you My message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
Then the Word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."
Isaiah 64: 8
Yet, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, You are the Potter, we are all the work of Your hand.
Romans 9: 21
Does not the Potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
O my dear, dear Father! Thank You for for all You have done, are doing, and will finish in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren and their children.
Thank You for this picture You gave me while I was praying with my prayer partner: We begin as clay pots fit for nothing but garbage. Then You save us and clean out all the filth within us. Then You continually work in us to transform the opaque clay into crystal, little by little, moment by moment, molecule by molecule; transforming these clay pots into crystal goblets, crystal vases, Your glory shining out from us like Diamonds, as You had Paul tell the Corinthian church:
II Corinthians 4: 6-7
God ... made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
O Father, even now, once in a while, Your goodness and compassion shines out through a tiny window of crystal in this clay, and others can see Your glory in us.
I thank You, dear Father, so much, that now that You have begun thus good work in us, that You will continue to finish and perfect it until our King returns in His Glory, and we will shine like the Sun, as Stars in His Crown!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you My message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands, so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
Then the Word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."
Isaiah 64: 8
Yet, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, You are the Potter, we are all the work of Your hand.
Romans 9: 21
Does not the Potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
O my dear, dear Father! Thank You for for all You have done, are doing, and will finish in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren and their children.
Thank You for this picture You gave me while I was praying with my prayer partner: We begin as clay pots fit for nothing but garbage. Then You save us and clean out all the filth within us. Then You continually work in us to transform the opaque clay into crystal, little by little, moment by moment, molecule by molecule; transforming these clay pots into crystal goblets, crystal vases, Your glory shining out from us like Diamonds, as You had Paul tell the Corinthian church:
II Corinthians 4: 6-7
God ... made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
O Father, even now, once in a while, Your goodness and compassion shines out through a tiny window of crystal in this clay, and others can see Your glory in us.
I thank You, dear Father, so much, that now that You have begun thus good work in us, that You will continue to finish and perfect it until our King returns in His Glory, and we will shine like the Sun, as Stars in His Crown!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, September 25, 2017
I AM
Exodus 3: 14
God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
I AM = YHWH = Yahweh = Jehovah = The Self-Existent One. The One Who has always been because He exists within Himself. He is Existence.
Yet Psalm 22 presents this great, self-existent One as poured out like water, abandoned by God, and mocked and scorned by men. The very men He created. In Matthew 17:22 Jesus told them that He would be betrayed and killed, and rise again, and His disciples were filled with grief.
O my Father, You are God, I am not. You came to this Earth as Your Son, still retaining Your Sovereignty, but in human flesh, holding your Divinity in abeyance. That You would allow men to abuse You, beat You and spit on You--and put You to death as the criminal I am. You took my place on that Cross, just as that innocent lamb in Leviticus 1 substituted its death for the penitent who brought it.
I can do nothing. Anything that seems to be accomplished in or through me is You in me. Please help me to remember moment-by-moment and day-by-day that I am powerless to do anything, that any measures I try to take to manipulate circumstances will only backfire.
Strengthen me to rely only on You to arrange the circumstances of my life to accomplish Your purposes, and please keep me out of Your way. Humble me before You that Your character will be seen in me by others, and not my own. Then You will receive all the credit, the glory for everything You do.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
I AM = YHWH = Yahweh = Jehovah = The Self-Existent One. The One Who has always been because He exists within Himself. He is Existence.
Yet Psalm 22 presents this great, self-existent One as poured out like water, abandoned by God, and mocked and scorned by men. The very men He created. In Matthew 17:22 Jesus told them that He would be betrayed and killed, and rise again, and His disciples were filled with grief.
O my Father, You are God, I am not. You came to this Earth as Your Son, still retaining Your Sovereignty, but in human flesh, holding your Divinity in abeyance. That You would allow men to abuse You, beat You and spit on You--and put You to death as the criminal I am. You took my place on that Cross, just as that innocent lamb in Leviticus 1 substituted its death for the penitent who brought it.
I can do nothing. Anything that seems to be accomplished in or through me is You in me. Please help me to remember moment-by-moment and day-by-day that I am powerless to do anything, that any measures I try to take to manipulate circumstances will only backfire.
Strengthen me to rely only on You to arrange the circumstances of my life to accomplish Your purposes, and please keep me out of Your way. Humble me before You that Your character will be seen in me by others, and not my own. Then You will receive all the credit, the glory for everything You do.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
God's Words
Proverbs 4: 20-27
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole being. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
Jesus explained to us in John 6 about real life. Real life is not physical, it is spiritual (v. 63). When a person's spiritual parts (soul and spirit) leave his body, he is dead. He told us that His Words are Spirit and they are life. So we are to nourish our spirits with His Word: not just reading it, but devouring it, chewing it by thinking on it and meditating on it and studying it. Then when we are ready to apply its Truth to our own life and attitudes, that's when we swallow it and it becomes our life.
O my Father, please help me, lead and guide me to mark out a straight path for my feet, and keep me from being sidetracked. Show me the goals You have for me, that I may strive to achieve Your will in the few days You have allotted to me. Keep me on Your safe path, safe because You walk with me, protecting me from all the dangers on the right-hand and on the left. Let others see only You in me, that You will get all the credit for what You are accomplishing in and through me, and I may be a trophy of Your grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole being. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
Jesus explained to us in John 6 about real life. Real life is not physical, it is spiritual (v. 63). When a person's spiritual parts (soul and spirit) leave his body, he is dead. He told us that His Words are Spirit and they are life. So we are to nourish our spirits with His Word: not just reading it, but devouring it, chewing it by thinking on it and meditating on it and studying it. Then when we are ready to apply its Truth to our own life and attitudes, that's when we swallow it and it becomes our life.
O my Father, please help me, lead and guide me to mark out a straight path for my feet, and keep me from being sidetracked. Show me the goals You have for me, that I may strive to achieve Your will in the few days You have allotted to me. Keep me on Your safe path, safe because You walk with me, protecting me from all the dangers on the right-hand and on the left. Let others see only You in me, that You will get all the credit for what You are accomplishing in and through me, and I may be a trophy of Your grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Our Great God!
Psalm 19: 1-4
The Heavens proclaim the glory of God, the skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word, their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the Earth, and their words to all the World.
O my precious Father God, You are truly the magnificent sovereign potentate of all the Universe You have created! Your wisdom and understanding have set all the stars in place on their courses.
Yet the wicked still walk in total darkness. Proverbs 4:19 says, The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. They don't recognize that their very premise that they start on is faulty, and so they continue on in their scientific studies on a wrong track, and totally miss God's Truth.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6: 22-23, The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes (sight) are good, your whole body is full of light. But if your eyes (sight) are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
If what you consider is light, is understanding, is wisdom, is actually darkness, error, deception; then that darkness will act like light, in dispelling its opposite, truth, and deepening the error. You will continue to be deceived, believing the lie of Evolution instead of the Truth of Creation, and you will base all the rest of your life on this faulty premise. Then when things don't turn out well, you'll have no idea how things went wrong, you'll not see what tripped you.
So I suggest you go back to the beginning of God's Word, read in Genesis, the beginnings of everything, and believe what God said there. Then go on to the Gospels, the Good News of how Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament Law, beginning with the first sacrifice Leviticus (the book of sacrifices) records first in chapter 1, the personal sacrifice. Jesus died personally for each of us (because we have all sinned and deserve death) for Salvation. He also fulfilled the Corporate sacrifice, to purchase us all as His possession; as our Owner He is our rightful Judge.
God planned it all out before He even began to Create. The Godhead agreed that the Second Person would be the One to deal with this race of Mankind that He would make, and be the One to redeem us with His own Life, given as our Substitute, as that animal did in Leviticus 1. That's how much He loves us, and wants us to be with Him forever, where He lives (see John 17:24, in His High-Priestly Prayer).
My dear Father, thank You so much for giving us Your written Word, to tell us everything that happened in the past, and to lay out all that Jesus, Your Messiah to us, would do, to show us Your love, and to rescue us from ourselves.
You are Great, our Almighty God, Who showed us Your Wisdom in Creating all that exists, and Your Love put Order into the Chaos, so we would see Your Beauty in all the climates and environments You made. Everything I see shows me Your Majesty, my Lord, and prompts me to worship You in Your Goodness and Graciousness and Mercy and great Love that You have lavished on me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Heavens proclaim the glory of God, the skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word, their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the Earth, and their words to all the World.
O my precious Father God, You are truly the magnificent sovereign potentate of all the Universe You have created! Your wisdom and understanding have set all the stars in place on their courses.
Yet the wicked still walk in total darkness. Proverbs 4:19 says, The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. They don't recognize that their very premise that they start on is faulty, and so they continue on in their scientific studies on a wrong track, and totally miss God's Truth.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6: 22-23, The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes (sight) are good, your whole body is full of light. But if your eyes (sight) are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
If what you consider is light, is understanding, is wisdom, is actually darkness, error, deception; then that darkness will act like light, in dispelling its opposite, truth, and deepening the error. You will continue to be deceived, believing the lie of Evolution instead of the Truth of Creation, and you will base all the rest of your life on this faulty premise. Then when things don't turn out well, you'll have no idea how things went wrong, you'll not see what tripped you.
So I suggest you go back to the beginning of God's Word, read in Genesis, the beginnings of everything, and believe what God said there. Then go on to the Gospels, the Good News of how Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament Law, beginning with the first sacrifice Leviticus (the book of sacrifices) records first in chapter 1, the personal sacrifice. Jesus died personally for each of us (because we have all sinned and deserve death) for Salvation. He also fulfilled the Corporate sacrifice, to purchase us all as His possession; as our Owner He is our rightful Judge.
God planned it all out before He even began to Create. The Godhead agreed that the Second Person would be the One to deal with this race of Mankind that He would make, and be the One to redeem us with His own Life, given as our Substitute, as that animal did in Leviticus 1. That's how much He loves us, and wants us to be with Him forever, where He lives (see John 17:24, in His High-Priestly Prayer).
My dear Father, thank You so much for giving us Your written Word, to tell us everything that happened in the past, and to lay out all that Jesus, Your Messiah to us, would do, to show us Your love, and to rescue us from ourselves.
You are Great, our Almighty God, Who showed us Your Wisdom in Creating all that exists, and Your Love put Order into the Chaos, so we would see Your Beauty in all the climates and environments You made. Everything I see shows me Your Majesty, my Lord, and prompts me to worship You in Your Goodness and Graciousness and Mercy and great Love that You have lavished on me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 22, 2017
Faith For Victory
After being so discouraged, Jacob (Israel) is now elated, and is even going to go himself to see Joseph again (Genesis 45:28). How God uses the reversals in our lives to bring about His purposes is so amazing! We just need to have faith in Him when we can't see what's ahead.
Jesus chides Peter for his little faith even as Peter just walked on the water (Matthew 14:31).
Psalm 18 is all about having victory over our enemies, with God's strength and power. We need only to pray before giving in to the temptation, for the power to choose the right and have a way out, thereby having victory over our enemies.
And Proverbs 4:11-13 undergirds all this with its admonition to let God's wisdom teach us right ways and straight paths, so we won't be held back or stumble into temptation. God's wisdom is the key to life, both temporal and eternal.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus chides Peter for his little faith even as Peter just walked on the water (Matthew 14:31).
Psalm 18 is all about having victory over our enemies, with God's strength and power. We need only to pray before giving in to the temptation, for the power to choose the right and have a way out, thereby having victory over our enemies.
And Proverbs 4:11-13 undergirds all this with its admonition to let God's wisdom teach us right ways and straight paths, so we won't be held back or stumble into temptation. God's wisdom is the key to life, both temporal and eternal.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Blind Trust
Poor Jacob, feeling so sorry for himself (Why were you so cruel to me? ... Why did you tell him you had another brother? Genesis 43:6).
He finally came to the place where he could say, May El Shaddai [God Almighty] give you mercy. .. But if I must lose my children, so be it (Genesis 43:14).
But only because they were starving. But how "starving" were they, with enough balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts and almonds(!) to send as a gift to this Egyptian ruler, who just happened to be Jacob's own long-lost Joseph!
We know the end of this story, but Jacob didn't yet at that time. Not being able to see what lies ahead, he was very discouraged, even though he tried to put his trust in God.
It's so hard for us to trust when we don't see the good God has for us up ahead, only the problems we have now. Only later, after, can we see how today's problems, griefs, and toils are used by God to bring about the best good for our sake, and bring glory to God, Who master-minded the whole process in the first place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He finally came to the place where he could say, May El Shaddai [God Almighty] give you mercy. .. But if I must lose my children, so be it (Genesis 43:14).
But only because they were starving. But how "starving" were they, with enough balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts and almonds(!) to send as a gift to this Egyptian ruler, who just happened to be Jacob's own long-lost Joseph!
We know the end of this story, but Jacob didn't yet at that time. Not being able to see what lies ahead, he was very discouraged, even though he tried to put his trust in God.
It's so hard for us to trust when we don't see the good God has for us up ahead, only the problems we have now. Only later, after, can we see how today's problems, griefs, and toils are used by God to bring about the best good for our sake, and bring glory to God, Who master-minded the whole process in the first place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Jacob's Life
I read about Jacob's life, how it is so hard for Jacob to deal honestly with others. He has deceived his father in such a blatant manner in stealing his brother Esau's blessing, then had to leave to go to Uncle Laban (Genesis 27).
Then he, in turn, is deceived by Laban in marrying Leah who he expected to be Rachel (29:21-25), and it seems that Jacob's relationship with Laban is full of mistrust.
When it is time to return home, Jacob steals away while Laban is away from home (31:20). But God has been dealing with Jacob all through these years, and now He even appears to Laban in a dream, telling him to, "leave Jacob alone!" (v. 24). God is so concerned for Jacob, and takes such careful care of him, even in his weaknesses.
And still, when Jacob hears that Esau is coming to meet him with an army, he's terrified (32:6-7). So he divides up his family and possessions, and that night he wrestles with the Angel of the Lord, Who gives him a new name, Israel (vs. 24-30). Now he knows that God really is his God, not just the God of his father and grandfather.
God is also careful to take good care of me. He doesn't "appear" to me, because His Spirit lives in me! His plans for me are what I see being worked out day by day, and they are a tiny part of His grand Plan of the Ages.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then he, in turn, is deceived by Laban in marrying Leah who he expected to be Rachel (29:21-25), and it seems that Jacob's relationship with Laban is full of mistrust.
When it is time to return home, Jacob steals away while Laban is away from home (31:20). But God has been dealing with Jacob all through these years, and now He even appears to Laban in a dream, telling him to, "leave Jacob alone!" (v. 24). God is so concerned for Jacob, and takes such careful care of him, even in his weaknesses.
And still, when Jacob hears that Esau is coming to meet him with an army, he's terrified (32:6-7). So he divides up his family and possessions, and that night he wrestles with the Angel of the Lord, Who gives him a new name, Israel (vs. 24-30). Now he knows that God really is his God, not just the God of his father and grandfather.
God is also careful to take good care of me. He doesn't "appear" to me, because His Spirit lives in me! His plans for me are what I see being worked out day by day, and they are a tiny part of His grand Plan of the Ages.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
The Light Of Understanding
Matthew 13: 12
Jesus, in explaining the Parable if the Soils, tells His disciples, To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
How serious are the ramifications of heeding or ignoring God's Word! His Word is Truth that sets us free; it is Light that dispels the darkness. To ignore it is to bring upon ourselves a deepening spiritual, mental, and psychological darkness; to allow ourselves to slip into the quicksand quagmire of bondage. How black-and-white Truth really is, with no grey area at all!
May we all take God seriously, never brushing off His revelations of Truth in even the small details of our lives. It's all the little things that build into the big things of life.
God is serious with us; we need to take Him at His Word. Otherwise we will find ourselves slipping down that steep slope to oblivion and destruction, away from all light, all good, all beauty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus, in explaining the Parable if the Soils, tells His disciples, To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
How serious are the ramifications of heeding or ignoring God's Word! His Word is Truth that sets us free; it is Light that dispels the darkness. To ignore it is to bring upon ourselves a deepening spiritual, mental, and psychological darkness; to allow ourselves to slip into the quicksand quagmire of bondage. How black-and-white Truth really is, with no grey area at all!
May we all take God seriously, never brushing off His revelations of Truth in even the small details of our lives. It's all the little things that build into the big things of life.
God is serious with us; we need to take Him at His Word. Otherwise we will find ourselves slipping down that steep slope to oblivion and destruction, away from all light, all good, all beauty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, September 18, 2017
The Foolish And Wise Woman
Proverbs 3: 13-15
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Without wisdom, I am a fool: with God's wisdom I have understanding and discernment, and can gain His power to act on that wisdom. It's worth more than money, and it has more value than gold.
I'm thinking about Proverbs 14:1 that says, The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. This can refer to the tents the Israelites lived in in the desert. The wife would make a new panel each year, adding it to the front of the tent, and removing the oldest panel in the back. It can also refer to the "house" as the household, or family.
As I don't live in a tent, I would apply this principle to my family. As I look back I see all the harm I've done in my relationships with my own loved ones, like the foolish woman, tearing down my own "house" with my words.
My prayer is for the wisdom to repair the breaches and rebuild the broken-down walls of my family relationships. That I would guard my tongue to keep silence when I have no words of encouragement or helpfulness.
And may my Father put into my mouth and on my tongue those words of edification that will build up the self-esteem of my dear ones, repairing what has been damaged and helping them to realize how precious they really are, in God's eyes and in mine, as I see them the way He does.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Without wisdom, I am a fool: with God's wisdom I have understanding and discernment, and can gain His power to act on that wisdom. It's worth more than money, and it has more value than gold.
I'm thinking about Proverbs 14:1 that says, The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. This can refer to the tents the Israelites lived in in the desert. The wife would make a new panel each year, adding it to the front of the tent, and removing the oldest panel in the back. It can also refer to the "house" as the household, or family.
As I don't live in a tent, I would apply this principle to my family. As I look back I see all the harm I've done in my relationships with my own loved ones, like the foolish woman, tearing down my own "house" with my words.
My prayer is for the wisdom to repair the breaches and rebuild the broken-down walls of my family relationships. That I would guard my tongue to keep silence when I have no words of encouragement or helpfulness.
And may my Father put into my mouth and on my tongue those words of edification that will build up the self-esteem of my dear ones, repairing what has been damaged and helping them to realize how precious they really are, in God's eyes and in mine, as I see them the way He does.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Poetic Justice
God has a sense of humor. If He didn't, He wouldn't have been able to give us a sense of humor, also.
I see humor when I read about Jacob, and again when I read about Haman.
As Jacob deceived his father Isaac to give him the blessing Isaac intended for Esau (Genesis 27:1-29), so now Jacob is deceived by his Uncle Laban, who tricked him into marrying Leah instead of Rachel (Genesis 29:20-26).
The Book of Esther tells us about Haman who was King Ahasuerus' right-hand-man, and wanted everyone to bow down to him. When Mordecai wouldn't, Haman decided to sentence him to death and built a 75 foot high gallows to hang him on. But he didn't want to just kill this one man, he wanted to destroy his whole nation.
When the king found out about his plan, he hanged Haman on his own gallows that he'd built for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted into the position Haman had had.
What we call Poetic Justice is the kind of joke God likes to play on people, either to judge them or to teach them something. Haman He judged; Jacob He taught how to live his life closer to God, and even received a new name, Israel.
Every time I hear about how someone received "poetic justice," I wonder if God is judging that person or if He is dealing with him/her as a son/daughter to teach them some important lesson.
Proverbs 26: 27 says that, He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
This is about trying to harm someone. The one who digs a pit in order to trap someone in it will himself be trapped by it, and the one who is positioning a stone to hit someone with it will find himself the victim of it's weight. You get the idea. Whenever we want to get back at someone, or just be mean or play a dangerous trick, watch out or you may just be the brunt of the joke. It could easily backfire on you, and you'll find yourself in the predicament you intended to put the other one in, while he gets the benefit you wanted.
Poetic Justice happens more often that you may think. This seems to be God's kind of humor, and He will display it whenever He sees a good opportunity.
How much better life is when we learn to love one another, instead of trying to trick one another. Humor is good when we can get a good laugh over some good thing that unexpectedly happened, or an impossible picture, like a huge log stuck in someone's eye. But let's stay away from anything that would be uncharitable or insulting or dangerous.
So keep laughing over what is honestly funny, and realize that God likes to laugh, too.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I see humor when I read about Jacob, and again when I read about Haman.
As Jacob deceived his father Isaac to give him the blessing Isaac intended for Esau (Genesis 27:1-29), so now Jacob is deceived by his Uncle Laban, who tricked him into marrying Leah instead of Rachel (Genesis 29:20-26).
The Book of Esther tells us about Haman who was King Ahasuerus' right-hand-man, and wanted everyone to bow down to him. When Mordecai wouldn't, Haman decided to sentence him to death and built a 75 foot high gallows to hang him on. But he didn't want to just kill this one man, he wanted to destroy his whole nation.
When the king found out about his plan, he hanged Haman on his own gallows that he'd built for Mordecai, and Mordecai was promoted into the position Haman had had.
What we call Poetic Justice is the kind of joke God likes to play on people, either to judge them or to teach them something. Haman He judged; Jacob He taught how to live his life closer to God, and even received a new name, Israel.
Every time I hear about how someone received "poetic justice," I wonder if God is judging that person or if He is dealing with him/her as a son/daughter to teach them some important lesson.
Proverbs 26: 27 says that, He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
This is about trying to harm someone. The one who digs a pit in order to trap someone in it will himself be trapped by it, and the one who is positioning a stone to hit someone with it will find himself the victim of it's weight. You get the idea. Whenever we want to get back at someone, or just be mean or play a dangerous trick, watch out or you may just be the brunt of the joke. It could easily backfire on you, and you'll find yourself in the predicament you intended to put the other one in, while he gets the benefit you wanted.
Poetic Justice happens more often that you may think. This seems to be God's kind of humor, and He will display it whenever He sees a good opportunity.
How much better life is when we learn to love one another, instead of trying to trick one another. Humor is good when we can get a good laugh over some good thing that unexpectedly happened, or an impossible picture, like a huge log stuck in someone's eye. But let's stay away from anything that would be uncharitable or insulting or dangerous.
So keep laughing over what is honestly funny, and realize that God likes to laugh, too.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 16, 2017
God's Tears
Twice we're told that Jesus wept: Once at Lazarus' tomb (in John 11:35), when He knew He would be raising him back to life; and again over Jerusalem (in Luke 19:41), knowing that they would reject Him, crucify Him, and continue in their rebellion against Him.
So I know that when we weep, God weeps with us, and it doesn't matter if everything will turn out for the good or in a bad way, we can still weep the same, and trust God to accomplish His purposes in the sorrows and the pains we experience.
And to realize that it is the sorrows and pain that cause us to grow and learn to lean on Him and depend on Him, for it is in our weaknesses that His strength is perfected in us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So I know that when we weep, God weeps with us, and it doesn't matter if everything will turn out for the good or in a bad way, we can still weep the same, and trust God to accomplish His purposes in the sorrows and the pains we experience.
And to realize that it is the sorrows and pain that cause us to grow and learn to lean on Him and depend on Him, for it is in our weaknesses that His strength is perfected in us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 15, 2017
Healing And Strength
Proverbs 3: 7-8
Says, Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
This is about thinking we know what's best for ourselves, we don't want anyone else to tell us what to do. Then we get caught up in all the "official" opinions of the day.
But God has shown us what is good, and He has put into this Earth everything we need. When we think His thoughts for us, and fill our hearts and minds with His Truth, then we will be able to see what is actually designed for our good health and eat what is natural, the way God made it to grow, to nourish our bodies and give strength to our bones, our framework.
We will also gain an understanding of how to love our neighbor, also, considering their need above our own, and doing for them what will benefit them, regardless of the cost.
O my Father, thank You for Your wonderful Word that teaches me your Truth. Thank you for Your gift of discernment to see what is good and what is not to put into my body to nourish it.
Please continue to teach me Your ways concerning the foods I choose to eat. Help me to see what is natural and turn away from what has been changed and fooled with.
And strengthen me, Lord, to go where You would have me to go, and do what You want to do through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Says, Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
This is about thinking we know what's best for ourselves, we don't want anyone else to tell us what to do. Then we get caught up in all the "official" opinions of the day.
But God has shown us what is good, and He has put into this Earth everything we need. When we think His thoughts for us, and fill our hearts and minds with His Truth, then we will be able to see what is actually designed for our good health and eat what is natural, the way God made it to grow, to nourish our bodies and give strength to our bones, our framework.
We will also gain an understanding of how to love our neighbor, also, considering their need above our own, and doing for them what will benefit them, regardless of the cost.
O my Father, thank You for Your wonderful Word that teaches me your Truth. Thank you for Your gift of discernment to see what is good and what is not to put into my body to nourish it.
Please continue to teach me Your ways concerning the foods I choose to eat. Help me to see what is natural and turn away from what has been changed and fooled with.
And strengthen me, Lord, to go where You would have me to go, and do what You want to do through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, September 14, 2017
More Names Of God
Genesis 21: 33 Abraham calls God El Olam, The Eternal God. Our God has no beginning and no end, He never changes, His opinions never change, He is always dependable and will always do what He says He will do. He is faithful to His Word.
Genesis 22: 14 This is where Abraham calls God Yaweh Yireh, The Lord God Who Will Provide. God had told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but then provided a ram caught in a thicket to take Isaac's place in sacrifice. This is where the saying comes from, On the Mountain of the Lord it will be provided.
God has promised us that He would provide everything we need. He is eternal, so He knows the end from the beginning, and can see what is still ahead of us. So He would not ever say He would do anything that He would not be able to do.
The saying, "On the Mountain of the Lord it will be provided" is a picture of what Abraham experienced that day. He obeyed the Lord in taking his son to the Mountain, and God provided a substitute sacrifice for the boy, who was then able to live.
So the Mountain of the Lord would refer to being in obedience to God, to do even what would seem unreasonable; and God will provide what we need, to live and carry out His Plan for us and for the World.
O my Father, I can never go wrong when I know that I am doing what You have told me to do. Even if it seems silly or unreasonable to the World, I can trust You to do right by me, just as You did for Abraham. You have not changed, so I know You are worthy of my trust.
Father, I ask that whenever the time comes when I need to obey You against common sense, grant me the faith to go ahead with Your Plan, to accomplish what You have determined is mine to achieve in Your Name. And I know that You will receive all the credit, the glory and honor, for what You planned ahead of time to do.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Genesis 22: 14 This is where Abraham calls God Yaweh Yireh, The Lord God Who Will Provide. God had told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but then provided a ram caught in a thicket to take Isaac's place in sacrifice. This is where the saying comes from, On the Mountain of the Lord it will be provided.
God has promised us that He would provide everything we need. He is eternal, so He knows the end from the beginning, and can see what is still ahead of us. So He would not ever say He would do anything that He would not be able to do.
The saying, "On the Mountain of the Lord it will be provided" is a picture of what Abraham experienced that day. He obeyed the Lord in taking his son to the Mountain, and God provided a substitute sacrifice for the boy, who was then able to live.
So the Mountain of the Lord would refer to being in obedience to God, to do even what would seem unreasonable; and God will provide what we need, to live and carry out His Plan for us and for the World.
O my Father, I can never go wrong when I know that I am doing what You have told me to do. Even if it seems silly or unreasonable to the World, I can trust You to do right by me, just as You did for Abraham. You have not changed, so I know You are worthy of my trust.
Father, I ask that whenever the time comes when I need to obey You against common sense, grant me the faith to go ahead with Your Plan, to accomplish what You have determined is mine to achieve in Your Name. And I know that You will receive all the credit, the glory and honor, for what You planned ahead of time to do.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Names Of God
God is known by different Names which reveal His power and personality. Here are two of these Names:
Genesis 16: 13 Here Hagar calls Him El Roi, the God Who Sees Me. No one ever escapes His notice, He watches each one of us.
Genesis 17: 1 Here God calls Himself El Shaddai, God Almighty, to Abraham. He is the God who is Almighty, He has all power over everything. He is Sovereign over all, no one else anywhere or anytime has or will ever be able to call Him to account, as we are all accountable to Him alone.
So the Almighty God sees us. He sees my sitting and my standing; my isolation and my reaching out to others; my staying home and my going out. He understands all my thoughts and intentions, and He sovereignly guides my steps. My free will allows me to chose, but only within His fenced-in yard: No matter how I choose, it will not mess up His plans for me, or for all Time.
But if I choose poorly, looking only at the immediate result, I can put all kinds of trouble into my life, that I would be able to avoid, had I considered His ways and the long-term consequences.
O my Father, Almighty God Who Sees Me, please guard my goings, that in my weakness Your strength will be perfected. I am destitute and in desperate need of You, my Lord. In You alone can I accomplish anything. Glorify Yourself in my life, because You alone deserve all the credit, all the honor and glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Genesis 16: 13 Here Hagar calls Him El Roi, the God Who Sees Me. No one ever escapes His notice, He watches each one of us.
Genesis 17: 1 Here God calls Himself El Shaddai, God Almighty, to Abraham. He is the God who is Almighty, He has all power over everything. He is Sovereign over all, no one else anywhere or anytime has or will ever be able to call Him to account, as we are all accountable to Him alone.
So the Almighty God sees us. He sees my sitting and my standing; my isolation and my reaching out to others; my staying home and my going out. He understands all my thoughts and intentions, and He sovereignly guides my steps. My free will allows me to chose, but only within His fenced-in yard: No matter how I choose, it will not mess up His plans for me, or for all Time.
But if I choose poorly, looking only at the immediate result, I can put all kinds of trouble into my life, that I would be able to avoid, had I considered His ways and the long-term consequences.
O my Father, Almighty God Who Sees Me, please guard my goings, that in my weakness Your strength will be perfected. I am destitute and in desperate need of You, my Lord. In You alone can I accomplish anything. Glorify Yourself in my life, because You alone deserve all the credit, all the honor and glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Fills The Earth
Psalm 8: 1 and 9
O Lord our Lord, Your majestic Name fills the Earth!
His Name is His authority as Creator, Maker, Designer, Provider, Ruler, Judge, and King. The Moon and Stars are the work of His fingers (v. 3). He has made Mankind a little lower than Elohim (gods or angels), and crowned us with glory and honor (v. 5) with authority over all the creatures on land and sea (vs. 6-8).
And it took the strength of His arm to save us! (Psalm 77:15). He has saved us from our sins, and saved us from ourselves. He has saved us for His own possession; for His purposes and His plans for us are for our good, to give us a future and a hope. This brings Glory to Him, our Owner.
He has granted us Mercy, in putting all His wrath that is due us on His Son; and He has granted us Grace, in giving us all the Goodness that we don't deserve and can never earn.
We are His Trophies of Grace--only in His power can we do or accomplish anything.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
O Lord our Lord, Your majestic Name fills the Earth!
His Name is His authority as Creator, Maker, Designer, Provider, Ruler, Judge, and King. The Moon and Stars are the work of His fingers (v. 3). He has made Mankind a little lower than Elohim (gods or angels), and crowned us with glory and honor (v. 5) with authority over all the creatures on land and sea (vs. 6-8).
And it took the strength of His arm to save us! (Psalm 77:15). He has saved us from our sins, and saved us from ourselves. He has saved us for His own possession; for His purposes and His plans for us are for our good, to give us a future and a hope. This brings Glory to Him, our Owner.
He has granted us Mercy, in putting all His wrath that is due us on His Son; and He has granted us Grace, in giving us all the Goodness that we don't deserve and can never earn.
We are His Trophies of Grace--only in His power can we do or accomplish anything.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, September 11, 2017
So Few Days
Psalm 90: 12
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.
We have so little time here on this Earth to accomplish what we will. I dare say that half or more of my time here has already passed.
So few days left, O Lord; please teach me how to make the most of every day, each day left that is allotted to me, every moment You give me to seek Your Face, and grow in Your wisdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.
We have so little time here on this Earth to accomplish what we will. I dare say that half or more of my time here has already passed.
So few days left, O Lord; please teach me how to make the most of every day, each day left that is allotted to me, every moment You give me to seek Your Face, and grow in Your wisdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Our Home
Psalm 90: 1
Lord, through all the generations You have been our home.
Not Heaven, not Paradise, not any place, but a Person. My Lord God is my home. The longing of my heart is a Person, not place or a thing, or a culture or a society. A Personality, with honorable character and righteousness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Lord, through all the generations You have been our home.
Not Heaven, not Paradise, not any place, but a Person. My Lord God is my home. The longing of my heart is a Person, not place or a thing, or a culture or a society. A Personality, with honorable character and righteousness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Celebrate!
Exodus 34: 23-24
Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.
These three times are for the three feasts that were to be celebrated in Jerusalem for a week each. So God invited them to His party three times a year.
Our God is a party God. He gave us a seven-day week so that we would take a day off each week and not wear ourselves out. And He had His people observe six specific "feasts" to lay out His program for us all, and half of these had all the people come to God's house for His week-long party.
When Jesus walked this Earth, He showed us what God is like; and He liked to go to parties. And some of His parables used parties as an example of God's ways.
We take vacations, which are like a week-long party to get away from the daily grind. God had His people take three vacations a year, coming to Jerusalem to celebrate with food and joyfulness.
God loves us so much, He doesn't want us to wear ourselves out with the hard labor of providing sustenance for our families. Even during planting and during harvest, the busiest times of the agrarian year, they were to take that day off each week to honor God and get the rest they needed to tackle their work again the next week. And they were also to let the land rest every seven years, so it would continue to produce the abundance of crops and not be depleted.
If only we would listen to God and take Him seriously and practically in our daily lives, things would go so much better for us in this World; we would have everything we need, and we would get along with one another so much better; because that's how He designed it all to work.
But we listen instead to our enemy who wants to destroy us, who tells us we're smart, we know better and can make our own decisions, we don't want anyone to tell us what to do. And our pride swells up in our hearts, and we make our own decisions, not considering the long-range consequences. Then we wonder why we just can't seem to get a break.
So turn around, humble yourself before your Creator, listen to what He says to you, even if it doesn't seem to make "sense." Do what He has told you to do, His way, in His time, and you will see the goodness of the Lord for you. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are so far above our thoughts! He wants only the best for us, and even sacrificed His most Precious for us.
Life is not a party. So let's find reasons to celebrate. Let's discover joy in the every day. Let's make time to get together and enjoy one another. It won't plan itself, we must intentionally look for ways to get together for at least a meal from time to time. Pay attention to what's going on, and focus on what's good and positive instead of criticizing what's not. Let's find time to have a party, and invite God into our celebrations, to rejoice in Him together.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.
These three times are for the three feasts that were to be celebrated in Jerusalem for a week each. So God invited them to His party three times a year.
Our God is a party God. He gave us a seven-day week so that we would take a day off each week and not wear ourselves out. And He had His people observe six specific "feasts" to lay out His program for us all, and half of these had all the people come to God's house for His week-long party.
When Jesus walked this Earth, He showed us what God is like; and He liked to go to parties. And some of His parables used parties as an example of God's ways.
We take vacations, which are like a week-long party to get away from the daily grind. God had His people take three vacations a year, coming to Jerusalem to celebrate with food and joyfulness.
God loves us so much, He doesn't want us to wear ourselves out with the hard labor of providing sustenance for our families. Even during planting and during harvest, the busiest times of the agrarian year, they were to take that day off each week to honor God and get the rest they needed to tackle their work again the next week. And they were also to let the land rest every seven years, so it would continue to produce the abundance of crops and not be depleted.
If only we would listen to God and take Him seriously and practically in our daily lives, things would go so much better for us in this World; we would have everything we need, and we would get along with one another so much better; because that's how He designed it all to work.
But we listen instead to our enemy who wants to destroy us, who tells us we're smart, we know better and can make our own decisions, we don't want anyone to tell us what to do. And our pride swells up in our hearts, and we make our own decisions, not considering the long-range consequences. Then we wonder why we just can't seem to get a break.
So turn around, humble yourself before your Creator, listen to what He says to you, even if it doesn't seem to make "sense." Do what He has told you to do, His way, in His time, and you will see the goodness of the Lord for you. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are so far above our thoughts! He wants only the best for us, and even sacrificed His most Precious for us.
Life is not a party. So let's find reasons to celebrate. Let's discover joy in the every day. Let's make time to get together and enjoy one another. It won't plan itself, we must intentionally look for ways to get together for at least a meal from time to time. Pay attention to what's going on, and focus on what's good and positive instead of criticizing what's not. Let's find time to have a party, and invite God into our celebrations, to rejoice in Him together.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 8, 2017
Our Words
Psalm 39: 1
I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.
Proverbs 13: 3
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life.
I have been learning how to put that muzzle on my mouth as a guard, to keep me from speaking before I have considered what my words will do--to harm or build up.
God's Word made the world; and He has given us words that have great power, also. We can, by our words, tear down much good and destroy others; and our words can build up and encourage others, and accomplish God's purposes.
O my Father, continue to teach me to think before I open my mouth to speak; that I may use the power You place in my words only to encourage, to teach Your Truth, and to build up others, drawing them to You.
Give me opportunities to share Your joy with others, the wonderful salvation You offer to all. Find Your lost sheep and bring them in that there will be one fold and one Shepherd!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.
Proverbs 13: 3
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life.
I have been learning how to put that muzzle on my mouth as a guard, to keep me from speaking before I have considered what my words will do--to harm or build up.
God's Word made the world; and He has given us words that have great power, also. We can, by our words, tear down much good and destroy others; and our words can build up and encourage others, and accomplish God's purposes.
O my Father, continue to teach me to think before I open my mouth to speak; that I may use the power You place in my words only to encourage, to teach Your Truth, and to build up others, drawing them to You.
Give me opportunities to share Your joy with others, the wonderful salvation You offer to all. Find Your lost sheep and bring them in that there will be one fold and one Shepherd!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, September 7, 2017
God Will Dwell Among Us
Exodus 29: 45-46
And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God Who brought them out from the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.
God's Plan was always to dwell among His people, and be the Lord their God to them. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve until they sinned. He traveled with Israel through the Desert for the 40 years they wandered, then brought them into their Land. He had Solomon build Him a magnificent Temple, acknowledging that no Earthly structure would be able to contain Him.
Now God dwells in us, His church, by His Holy Spirit, in each of our spirits one-by-one, hidden away from the World. And He will eventually live forever among His people in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth in the New Heaven (Universe).
O my Father, all the years of past history are but a blink of an eye compared to the forever You have planned and are preparing us for.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God Who brought them out from the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.
God's Plan was always to dwell among His people, and be the Lord their God to them. He walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve until they sinned. He traveled with Israel through the Desert for the 40 years they wandered, then brought them into their Land. He had Solomon build Him a magnificent Temple, acknowledging that no Earthly structure would be able to contain Him.
Now God dwells in us, His church, by His Holy Spirit, in each of our spirits one-by-one, hidden away from the World. And He will eventually live forever among His people in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth in the New Heaven (Universe).
O my Father, all the years of past history are but a blink of an eye compared to the forever You have planned and are preparing us for.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Thanksgiving And Praise
Psalm 100: 4-5
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
The Book of Psalms is God's song-book, and it shows us His heart. These verses remind us to always have an attitude of thankfulness.
Whatever we focus on is what grows large in our vision, and the rest fades into the background. When we focus on all the good God does in our lives every day, instead of looking at the flaws and criticisms, then His blessings loom large and all the negative stuff just fades away. Then we gain a positive attitude that brightens up our days and encourages others in our world.
When we cultivate and deliberately practice looking at all the good we can find every day, and every time something negative crosses our mind we can purposefully replace that thought with something that is lovely or gracious or praiseworthy. We need to practice diligently to form a new good habit. And it takes longer than to pick up a bad habit. Sometimes a long time. But if we're faithful to continue to be aware of what we're doing in our thought life, we will reap wonderful and tremendous results. It's always worth it.
Our thoughts inform our choices, our choices determine our decisions, which become our actions, that fill our days, and become our life. So pay attention to how you think and what you think about.
Always remember how good our God is every day, and that His very Nature is Love.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
The Book of Psalms is God's song-book, and it shows us His heart. These verses remind us to always have an attitude of thankfulness.
Whatever we focus on is what grows large in our vision, and the rest fades into the background. When we focus on all the good God does in our lives every day, instead of looking at the flaws and criticisms, then His blessings loom large and all the negative stuff just fades away. Then we gain a positive attitude that brightens up our days and encourages others in our world.
When we cultivate and deliberately practice looking at all the good we can find every day, and every time something negative crosses our mind we can purposefully replace that thought with something that is lovely or gracious or praiseworthy. We need to practice diligently to form a new good habit. And it takes longer than to pick up a bad habit. Sometimes a long time. But if we're faithful to continue to be aware of what we're doing in our thought life, we will reap wonderful and tremendous results. It's always worth it.
Our thoughts inform our choices, our choices determine our decisions, which become our actions, that fill our days, and become our life. So pay attention to how you think and what you think about.
Always remember how good our God is every day, and that His very Nature is Love.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
When God Relents
Isaiah 26
V. 1. Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord:
V. 2. This is what the Lord says: "Stand in the courtyard of the Lord's House and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the House of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.
V. 3. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done."
The picture here is that Jeremiah will stand in the courtyard of the Temple where all the people gather, and tell them, not necessarily the Priests and Levites, the leaders of the people. The common people were the ones God wanted to talk to, to get them to individually decide to turn back to the Lord, away from the false idols that have ensnared them.
God saves us one by one. When people each decide to do right instead of the selfish or greedy stuff they've been doing, then God will make Himself known to them, one by one.
Verses 4-6 record the message, that they have not followed the Law or listened to the Prophets that have repeatedly tried to teach them what is right. If they still refuse to listen, then God will destroy His Temple and make the City of Jerusalem an object of cursing.
Well, the religious leaders heard him, too, and got angry. Verses 10 and 11 say that the Priests and Levites wanted to kill Jeremiah, for speaking against the Temple and City.
Verses 12-15 say that Jeremiah then defended his words as God's message to them, and if they would reform [their] ways and [their] actions and obey the Lord [their] God, then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster He has pronounced against [them]. But if they kill him, they'll be bringing on themselves and the city and all who live there the guilt of innocent blood, so do what they think is good and right, he's in their hands.
V. 16 says that the officials from the royal palace, along with the common people, all said to the religious leaders, This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the Name of the Lord our God!
Vs. 17-18. Then some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah," the same things Jeremiah was saying, against the Land and the Temple and the City of Jerusalem.
V. 19. "Did King Hezekiah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek His favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that He did not bring the disaster He pronounced against them? We are about to bring a great disaster on ourselves!"
V. 24. Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people who wanted to put him to death.
This is a very dramatic and hair-raising story! This Prophet goes right into the congregation of the common people, ignoring the religious leaders, telling them to repent, so God won't bring on the disasters He says He will if they don't.
Then the Religious Establishment try to condemn him to death for speaking against the Temple of the very God they were ignoring. And they could have, too.
Good thing the Royal Officials from the king's palace came over, so the people would have their permission to contradict the Priests and Levites.
And some of the old guys who remembered their history brought up Micah, whose book we have in our Scriptures, who said the same things to his contemporary king, Hezekiah, who promptly turned around and followed the Lord again, and he's recorded as a "good" king. And God relented for his sake.
Also another guy who apparently had clout supported Jeremiah, so he wasn't sentenced to die after all. Hurrah! The good guys won.
This is a principle we need to apply in our own lives.
Even when we've made poor decisions, and harbored dark and evil thoughts, and done things we're now ashamed of; all we need to do is turn around, admit to ourselves and to God that we deserve the punishment we've earned, and change our minds about how we've been living, choosing instead to follow God's ways.
Realize that Jesus satisfied all of God's wrath you deserve, and accept His gracious substitution in your place to atone in full for everything you've done.
Then He will relent and not subject you to the condemnation we all deserve.
Instead God will cause you to be born into His own Family, with all the privileges and responsibilities of His own child, the child of the King.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
V. 1. Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord:
V. 2. This is what the Lord says: "Stand in the courtyard of the Lord's House and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the House of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.
V. 3. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done."
The picture here is that Jeremiah will stand in the courtyard of the Temple where all the people gather, and tell them, not necessarily the Priests and Levites, the leaders of the people. The common people were the ones God wanted to talk to, to get them to individually decide to turn back to the Lord, away from the false idols that have ensnared them.
God saves us one by one. When people each decide to do right instead of the selfish or greedy stuff they've been doing, then God will make Himself known to them, one by one.
Verses 4-6 record the message, that they have not followed the Law or listened to the Prophets that have repeatedly tried to teach them what is right. If they still refuse to listen, then God will destroy His Temple and make the City of Jerusalem an object of cursing.
Well, the religious leaders heard him, too, and got angry. Verses 10 and 11 say that the Priests and Levites wanted to kill Jeremiah, for speaking against the Temple and City.
Verses 12-15 say that Jeremiah then defended his words as God's message to them, and if they would reform [their] ways and [their] actions and obey the Lord [their] God, then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster He has pronounced against [them]. But if they kill him, they'll be bringing on themselves and the city and all who live there the guilt of innocent blood, so do what they think is good and right, he's in their hands.
V. 16 says that the officials from the royal palace, along with the common people, all said to the religious leaders, This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the Name of the Lord our God!
Vs. 17-18. Then some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah," the same things Jeremiah was saying, against the Land and the Temple and the City of Jerusalem.
V. 19. "Did King Hezekiah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek His favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that He did not bring the disaster He pronounced against them? We are about to bring a great disaster on ourselves!"
V. 24. Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people who wanted to put him to death.
This is a very dramatic and hair-raising story! This Prophet goes right into the congregation of the common people, ignoring the religious leaders, telling them to repent, so God won't bring on the disasters He says He will if they don't.
Then the Religious Establishment try to condemn him to death for speaking against the Temple of the very God they were ignoring. And they could have, too.
Good thing the Royal Officials from the king's palace came over, so the people would have their permission to contradict the Priests and Levites.
And some of the old guys who remembered their history brought up Micah, whose book we have in our Scriptures, who said the same things to his contemporary king, Hezekiah, who promptly turned around and followed the Lord again, and he's recorded as a "good" king. And God relented for his sake.
Also another guy who apparently had clout supported Jeremiah, so he wasn't sentenced to die after all. Hurrah! The good guys won.
This is a principle we need to apply in our own lives.
Even when we've made poor decisions, and harbored dark and evil thoughts, and done things we're now ashamed of; all we need to do is turn around, admit to ourselves and to God that we deserve the punishment we've earned, and change our minds about how we've been living, choosing instead to follow God's ways.
Realize that Jesus satisfied all of God's wrath you deserve, and accept His gracious substitution in your place to atone in full for everything you've done.
Then He will relent and not subject you to the condemnation we all deserve.
Instead God will cause you to be born into His own Family, with all the privileges and responsibilities of His own child, the child of the King.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, September 4, 2017
Savior Or Judge?
Isaiah 53: 5-6
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.
God laid on Jesus all His wrath that we deserve for our sins. Now that His justice is satisfied and our debt is paid, God can now forgive us, letting Jesus' Blood wash away all our sins, and accept us into His own family.
Jesus died for each of us, individually, to save us. He also died the corporate sacrifice, for all of us; purchasing us all which makes Him our rightful Judge.
This was His plan from the beginning. God was able to tell His prophets what He was going to do, and give Moses the Law laying out the sacrifices, because He knew that He would send His own Son to be that Lamb of God, fulfilling those sacrifices.
That's how much He loves us, each one of us. He is not willing that any should perish in condemnation, but He wants every one of us to turn around from our own ways, toward Him. He's right here.
So is Jesus your Savior, having taken your place in death? Or will He be your Judge?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.
God laid on Jesus all His wrath that we deserve for our sins. Now that His justice is satisfied and our debt is paid, God can now forgive us, letting Jesus' Blood wash away all our sins, and accept us into His own family.
Jesus died for each of us, individually, to save us. He also died the corporate sacrifice, for all of us; purchasing us all which makes Him our rightful Judge.
This was His plan from the beginning. God was able to tell His prophets what He was going to do, and give Moses the Law laying out the sacrifices, because He knew that He would send His own Son to be that Lamb of God, fulfilling those sacrifices.
That's how much He loves us, each one of us. He is not willing that any should perish in condemnation, but He wants every one of us to turn around from our own ways, toward Him. He's right here.
So is Jesus your Savior, having taken your place in death? Or will He be your Judge?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Our Individual Stories
Acts 16: 31
Paul told the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."
In Acts 26: 9-18 Paul recounts to King Agrippa how Jesus saved him on the Road to Damascus.
We all need to be able to recount to others how God found us, how Jesus changed us, and how they also can be found by God and saved by Jesus. Every Christian needs to know how to do the work of an Evangelist, even if we don't feel gifted in that area.
We all need to be prepared to give our answer to anyone who asks us (I Peter 3:15).
I can tell you about when God found me and showed me Jesus hanging on His Cross. Tell me your story, I'd love to hear it, and I'll tell you mine.
All our stories are different, but they all have the same outcome: Jesus saved us! Practice telling your story; write it out, then condense it.
I started out droning on and on with my story. Then I wrote it out, and was able to cut it down to the essential truths, without leaving out any of the drama. And I've told it repeatedly to different people, and now I'm able to talk to just about anyone, using my story to present the Good News of how Jesus came to save each one of us and give us a new life.
It was really scary at first, but I did it anyway, and it got easier. Like anything else, practice always improves performance.
Let me know how you are doing in being able to share your story with others.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Paul told the jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."
In Acts 26: 9-18 Paul recounts to King Agrippa how Jesus saved him on the Road to Damascus.
We all need to be able to recount to others how God found us, how Jesus changed us, and how they also can be found by God and saved by Jesus. Every Christian needs to know how to do the work of an Evangelist, even if we don't feel gifted in that area.
We all need to be prepared to give our answer to anyone who asks us (I Peter 3:15).
I can tell you about when God found me and showed me Jesus hanging on His Cross. Tell me your story, I'd love to hear it, and I'll tell you mine.
All our stories are different, but they all have the same outcome: Jesus saved us! Practice telling your story; write it out, then condense it.
I started out droning on and on with my story. Then I wrote it out, and was able to cut it down to the essential truths, without leaving out any of the drama. And I've told it repeatedly to different people, and now I'm able to talk to just about anyone, using my story to present the Good News of how Jesus came to save each one of us and give us a new life.
It was really scary at first, but I did it anyway, and it got easier. Like anything else, practice always improves performance.
Let me know how you are doing in being able to share your story with others.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Pride Vs. Humility
Proverbs 13: 10
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
Pride can convince us that we aren't "that bad" to deserve to die. We never killed anybody, after all. But "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the mark." My arrow can miss the target completely, or it can hit it right next to the bull's eye; in any case, I've missed the mark I was aiming for.
Pride can also make me too stubborn to give way to a reasonable compromise, complicating my relationship with the other person. And causing arguments.
On the other hand, if I humble myself and honestly listen to other viewpoints, then I will have more information, more knowledge to consider in making my decisions; and the more relevant knowledge I can obtain, the better my decision will be.
This Book of Proverbs gives us a good map to follow in our relationships with one another. I have heard that even some people who don't even know the Lord read this book every month (it has 31 verses) for the practical advice it gives.
And the Book of Psalms gives us the Heart of God.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
Pride can convince us that we aren't "that bad" to deserve to die. We never killed anybody, after all. But "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the mark." My arrow can miss the target completely, or it can hit it right next to the bull's eye; in any case, I've missed the mark I was aiming for.
Pride can also make me too stubborn to give way to a reasonable compromise, complicating my relationship with the other person. And causing arguments.
On the other hand, if I humble myself and honestly listen to other viewpoints, then I will have more information, more knowledge to consider in making my decisions; and the more relevant knowledge I can obtain, the better my decision will be.
This Book of Proverbs gives us a good map to follow in our relationships with one another. I have heard that even some people who don't even know the Lord read this book every month (it has 31 verses) for the practical advice it gives.
And the Book of Psalms gives us the Heart of God.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, September 1, 2017
The First Of All The Sacrifices
Leviticus 1
Because this is a very detailed and technical record, I will paraphrase this for you.
Vs. 1-2 God spoke to Moses from the Tent of Meeting. He said that any individual person can bring an animal for his personal sacrifice, and it can be a calf or a lamb or a goat kid.
V. 3 It must be a male animal, that doesn't have any kind of imperfection, it must be perfectly healthy.
V. 4 This person must lay his hand on the head of the animal to identify with it, and it will be accepted as his substitute to pay his sin debt.
V. 5 Then he is to slaughter this young bull or lamb or goat kid, dying in his place; and the priest is to bring its blood in a bowl to the altar, and sprinkle this blood all around the sides of the altar. This blood will cover the man's sins so that he can now be forgiven.
Vs. 6-9 Then the priest will skin the animal and cut it into pieces, the sons of Aaron (the other priests) will kindle a fire on the altar, and arrange the pieces of the animal on the fire, including the head and all its fat. He is to wash its inner organs and legs and put them on the altar, too, to all burn up completely, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Vs. 10-13 Whether it is a calf, a lamb or a goat, it must be slaughtered on the North side of the altar, and its blood splashed all around on the sides of the altar to cover the sins of the person. Then it is to be all burned up completely.
Vs. 14-17 The person can even bring a bird if they cannot afford a mammal, a dove or a young pigeon. The priest is to wring off its head and drain out its blood on the side of the altar. The bird's crop is to be thrown to the East side of the altar, where the ashes are. Then he is to tear it open by its wings, but keep it together, to burn completely in the fire on the altar.
Jesus fulfilled this first, foundational sacrifice that every individual person was to bring. Jesus is our Lamb, sacrificed completely for us individually, His precious Blood splashing the sides of His altar, the Cross.
Every person is deserving of death for their personal sins, and for the sin-nature he is born into. God is so Holy, nothing that has any hint of sin is able to live with Him in Heaven. These people who brought the animal sacrifices could have their sins covered by the animal's blood so they could be forgiven, but they still couldn't go to Heaven when they died, they went to Sheol, the Place of the Dead.
Jesus described Sheol for us with His story about the Rich Man and Lazarus, with two distinct sides separated with an uncrossable gulf. Those who admitted they deserved death when they put their hand on the head of the sacrifice went to the Paradise side, but the rest had to go to the fire side.
Jesus told the "Good Thief" that He would be with him that day in Paradise, in Sheol. When Jesus died, while His body was buried in that cave, sealed with a stone, He was gathering all the forgiven people in Paradise to bring them to Heaven, since His precious Blood did not just cover, but actually washed away their sins.
As it takes away all of our sins today. When we agree with God that we deserve death, and figuratively lay our hand on His head as our Sacrifice, then His Blood cleanses us of all our sins and unrighteousness and makes us white as snow, white as wool, purified from anything and everything that would make us less than perfect, without spot or wrinkle. Suited and fit for life with God Himself, in His Heaven, even in the New Heaven and New Earth.
This has been His Plan from the beginning. And He is completing all the final touches of His design.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Because this is a very detailed and technical record, I will paraphrase this for you.
Vs. 1-2 God spoke to Moses from the Tent of Meeting. He said that any individual person can bring an animal for his personal sacrifice, and it can be a calf or a lamb or a goat kid.
V. 3 It must be a male animal, that doesn't have any kind of imperfection, it must be perfectly healthy.
V. 4 This person must lay his hand on the head of the animal to identify with it, and it will be accepted as his substitute to pay his sin debt.
V. 5 Then he is to slaughter this young bull or lamb or goat kid, dying in his place; and the priest is to bring its blood in a bowl to the altar, and sprinkle this blood all around the sides of the altar. This blood will cover the man's sins so that he can now be forgiven.
Vs. 6-9 Then the priest will skin the animal and cut it into pieces, the sons of Aaron (the other priests) will kindle a fire on the altar, and arrange the pieces of the animal on the fire, including the head and all its fat. He is to wash its inner organs and legs and put them on the altar, too, to all burn up completely, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Vs. 10-13 Whether it is a calf, a lamb or a goat, it must be slaughtered on the North side of the altar, and its blood splashed all around on the sides of the altar to cover the sins of the person. Then it is to be all burned up completely.
Vs. 14-17 The person can even bring a bird if they cannot afford a mammal, a dove or a young pigeon. The priest is to wring off its head and drain out its blood on the side of the altar. The bird's crop is to be thrown to the East side of the altar, where the ashes are. Then he is to tear it open by its wings, but keep it together, to burn completely in the fire on the altar.
Jesus fulfilled this first, foundational sacrifice that every individual person was to bring. Jesus is our Lamb, sacrificed completely for us individually, His precious Blood splashing the sides of His altar, the Cross.
Every person is deserving of death for their personal sins, and for the sin-nature he is born into. God is so Holy, nothing that has any hint of sin is able to live with Him in Heaven. These people who brought the animal sacrifices could have their sins covered by the animal's blood so they could be forgiven, but they still couldn't go to Heaven when they died, they went to Sheol, the Place of the Dead.
Jesus described Sheol for us with His story about the Rich Man and Lazarus, with two distinct sides separated with an uncrossable gulf. Those who admitted they deserved death when they put their hand on the head of the sacrifice went to the Paradise side, but the rest had to go to the fire side.
Jesus told the "Good Thief" that He would be with him that day in Paradise, in Sheol. When Jesus died, while His body was buried in that cave, sealed with a stone, He was gathering all the forgiven people in Paradise to bring them to Heaven, since His precious Blood did not just cover, but actually washed away their sins.
As it takes away all of our sins today. When we agree with God that we deserve death, and figuratively lay our hand on His head as our Sacrifice, then His Blood cleanses us of all our sins and unrighteousness and makes us white as snow, white as wool, purified from anything and everything that would make us less than perfect, without spot or wrinkle. Suited and fit for life with God Himself, in His Heaven, even in the New Heaven and New Earth.
This has been His Plan from the beginning. And He is completing all the final touches of His design.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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