Psalm 51: 16-17
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
God does not want us to try to make up for our wrongs by trying to do all kinds of things to pacify Him, or balance out the scales. Nothing we can do, no matter how good or how winsome or how much it cost us, it could never make up for any sin of ours, from the least to the greatest.
We are all born with a sin-bent nature, the Bible calls our "flesh." This is the sin we each are born into, that we inherit by our human nature. That is why we all sooner or later make that wrong choice to do what we know is wrong, but we do it anyway, for whatever reason. Some of us have more private and others more public sins, and some are more deeply affected by our sins and others to a lesser extent.
But the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. We are all guilty, and we each have earned the paycheck of death. That is why Jesus came to this Earth and entered into our World as a human being, just as we are. But He was not born of Adam, who passes on that gene to all of us through our DNA; He was born of Mary, a daughter of Eve, who only had personal sin, being deceived.
So Jesus did not need to give any sacrifice for himself, as all the priests and high-priests were commanded to, before offering the animal for the people; He could give His human life for each of us, which is what He did.
David knew this, and responded as he did, with that broken heart and spirit, in the repentance that God wants us all to experience. To admit to God that we deserve death, and let Jesus take our place on His Cross, paying our full, eternal debt on our behalf.
II Peter 3: 9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God is so gracious to allow His own Son to come forward to offer Himself in our place, as the Lamb of God, sacrificing God's own Blood on His altar, the Cross. Then God raised Him from the dead, with a new, Resurrection Life, proving He accepted that payment in full for each of us, and showing us what He has planned for us--that same Resurrection body that is designed to withstand the very presence of God Almighty to live with Him in His Home, Heaven.
O my Father, thank You so much for choosing me to be Your own. Thank You for sending Your only Son to take my place on Your Cross! I love You with my whole heart, soul, and my human strength.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
A Tabernacle Detail: The Lampstand
Numbers 8: 3-4
(Aaron) set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward (in front of the lampstand), just as the Lord had commanded Moses. The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms was made [in one piece] of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the Lord had shown Moses.
Revelation 1: 12-13, 20
When I turned to see Who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. . . . The seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The lamps are the seven churches (the seven ages of the church?), all set on one lampstand in the Tabernacle, one universal church.
The light of the lamps is to shine forward. We don't light a lamp then hide it, we set it up to give light to the whole room.
Our Light is to shine before us, we are not to hide our Light.
Father, teach me how to shine Your Light in me out to others without appearing to promote myself, only You!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(Aaron) set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward (in front of the lampstand), just as the Lord had commanded Moses. The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms was made [in one piece] of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the Lord had shown Moses.
Revelation 1: 12-13, 20
When I turned to see Who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. . . . The seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The lamps are the seven churches (the seven ages of the church?), all set on one lampstand in the Tabernacle, one universal church.
The light of the lamps is to shine forward. We don't light a lamp then hide it, we set it up to give light to the whole room.
Our Light is to shine before us, we are not to hide our Light.
Father, teach me how to shine Your Light in me out to others without appearing to promote myself, only You!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, October 29, 2017
God's Blessing
Numbers 6: 24-26
May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
God told Moses to have Aaron bless His people with this blessing.
I have given others this blessing since I found it, but I realize that God has already blessed me with all the elements of this Scripture.
God has blessed me and protected me. He has smiled upon me and been so gracious to me. He has shown me His favor in so many ways, and His peace has settled my mind and emotions in the midst of turmoil.
It has truly been said that you cannot out-give God. As I have desired that God would be so kind and gracious to others, He has been so much more kind and gracious to me!
O that I would be a vessel fit for the Master's use!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
God told Moses to have Aaron bless His people with this blessing.
I have given others this blessing since I found it, but I realize that God has already blessed me with all the elements of this Scripture.
God has blessed me and protected me. He has smiled upon me and been so gracious to me. He has shown me His favor in so many ways, and His peace has settled my mind and emotions in the midst of turmoil.
It has truly been said that you cannot out-give God. As I have desired that God would be so kind and gracious to others, He has been so much more kind and gracious to me!
O that I would be a vessel fit for the Master's use!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Our Primary Motivation
I Thessalonians 2: 4
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the One Who examines the motives of our hearts.
Our primary motivation for telling people the Good News that Jesus came to save us by dying for us and rising from the dead, is not to help the people, but to lift up our Lord, obeying Him in teaching everyone in all the Nations. We can help them in many temporal ways, showing them God's love; then He will do for the people what we cannot, lift them up out of the miry swamp and place their feet on the Rock when they believe.
O my Father, please search me and know me, see what wicked ways are still in me; show me my sin that I may confess it and forsake it. Cleanse me and mold me, make me an instrument approved by You to be entrusted with Your Good News.
Strengthen me in my weaknesses, that I would not seek people's approval, only Yours, for You are the One Who examines my heart, and You are the God Who makes me holy in Your sight.
It's all of You alone, and You will get all the credit, You will receive all the glory, for You alone deserve all the glory and honor and praise through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the One Who examines the motives of our hearts.
Our primary motivation for telling people the Good News that Jesus came to save us by dying for us and rising from the dead, is not to help the people, but to lift up our Lord, obeying Him in teaching everyone in all the Nations. We can help them in many temporal ways, showing them God's love; then He will do for the people what we cannot, lift them up out of the miry swamp and place their feet on the Rock when they believe.
O my Father, please search me and know me, see what wicked ways are still in me; show me my sin that I may confess it and forsake it. Cleanse me and mold me, make me an instrument approved by You to be entrusted with Your Good News.
Strengthen me in my weaknesses, that I would not seek people's approval, only Yours, for You are the One Who examines my heart, and You are the God Who makes me holy in Your sight.
It's all of You alone, and You will get all the credit, You will receive all the glory, for You alone deserve all the glory and honor and praise through all eternity.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, October 27, 2017
A Peek At The Golden Age
Psalm 47: 1-2, 9
Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the Great King of all the Earth.
The rulers of the World have gathered together
With the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the Earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.
This describes the future, when Christ Jesus has returned to the Earth as the conquering King over all the World, the Battle of Armageddon has been won, and the Golden Age of the World has begun.
Jesus has set up His Kingdom, everyone who has not submitted to His rule has been dealt with and dispatched, all the saints have received our new bodies, glowing like the sun, and the whole Earth has been cleansed of all that has hindered its running smoothly, as originally designed.
O my dear Father, I long for that great Day when my Lord and Savior, Your Son, establishes His reign as King over all the World! I long for His righteous Rule, for the Day love and joy and goodness and the knowledge of the Lord will fill the Earth as the waters cover and fill the oceans and seas.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the Great King of all the Earth.
The rulers of the World have gathered together
With the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the Earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.
This describes the future, when Christ Jesus has returned to the Earth as the conquering King over all the World, the Battle of Armageddon has been won, and the Golden Age of the World has begun.
Jesus has set up His Kingdom, everyone who has not submitted to His rule has been dealt with and dispatched, all the saints have received our new bodies, glowing like the sun, and the whole Earth has been cleansed of all that has hindered its running smoothly, as originally designed.
O my dear Father, I long for that great Day when my Lord and Savior, Your Son, establishes His reign as King over all the World! I long for His righteous Rule, for the Day love and joy and goodness and the knowledge of the Lord will fill the Earth as the waters cover and fill the oceans and seas.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, October 26, 2017
To Be Honored By Every Nation
Psalm 46: 10-11
Be still and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every Nation,
I will be honored throughout the World.
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
The Lord of Israel is our Fortress.
O my Father, You are the only One Who deserves all the honor. Strengthen me to be still, acknowledging that You are the Great God of the Universe, Commander-in-Chief of Your Heavenly Armies, and You do everything well.
You are the One accomplishing Your purposes in my life and throughout the World. Keep me constantly mindful, moment by moment and day by day, of Your precious Presence with me and in me, my dear Lord. Fill me with Your Spirit this day, that I will see and understand to use each moment of this day wisely, so that my thoughts, attitudes, words, and acts today will bring me another small step forward on that path You have set my feet upon.
May this day bring me and all of us one day closer to the culmination of Your great Plan for this Age, and for all time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Be still and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every Nation,
I will be honored throughout the World.
The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
The Lord of Israel is our Fortress.
O my Father, You are the only One Who deserves all the honor. Strengthen me to be still, acknowledging that You are the Great God of the Universe, Commander-in-Chief of Your Heavenly Armies, and You do everything well.
You are the One accomplishing Your purposes in my life and throughout the World. Keep me constantly mindful, moment by moment and day by day, of Your precious Presence with me and in me, my dear Lord. Fill me with Your Spirit this day, that I will see and understand to use each moment of this day wisely, so that my thoughts, attitudes, words, and acts today will bring me another small step forward on that path You have set my feet upon.
May this day bring me and all of us one day closer to the culmination of Your great Plan for this Age, and for all time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Looking Forward
I Thessalonians 1: 10
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from Heaven--Jesus, Whom God raised from the dead. He is the One Who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
O my Father, thank You for this wonderful promise, that we are rescued from terror. Just as You rescued Your children Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego) from the terror of the fiery furnace, and Daniel (Belteshazzar) from the terror of the lions' den, so You will rescue us from the terrors of the coming judgment. Whatever will befall us in these Last Days, we will not need to be terrified, as You will give us Your peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Even if we are in the middle of a maelstrom, we may see a thousand fall at our left hand, and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us (Psalm 91:7). We are not subject to Your wrath, Father, that You will unleash upon the World, as You have already placed the wrath we deserve on Jesus on Calvary.
Father, I do look to the coming of Your Son Jesus from Heaven. Every time I look up and see clouds in the sky, I admire Your beauty You put there, and think of Jesus, coming with clouds, anticipating His return with excitement. What kind of clouds I don't know: Heavenly clouds? Clouds of glory? Earthly clouds, to shield Him from the World's view as He calls out His own? It doesn't matter; You know, Father, and that is sufficient for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from Heaven--Jesus, Whom God raised from the dead. He is the One Who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
O my Father, thank You for this wonderful promise, that we are rescued from terror. Just as You rescued Your children Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego) from the terror of the fiery furnace, and Daniel (Belteshazzar) from the terror of the lions' den, so You will rescue us from the terrors of the coming judgment. Whatever will befall us in these Last Days, we will not need to be terrified, as You will give us Your peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Even if we are in the middle of a maelstrom, we may see a thousand fall at our left hand, and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us (Psalm 91:7). We are not subject to Your wrath, Father, that You will unleash upon the World, as You have already placed the wrath we deserve on Jesus on Calvary.
Father, I do look to the coming of Your Son Jesus from Heaven. Every time I look up and see clouds in the sky, I admire Your beauty You put there, and think of Jesus, coming with clouds, anticipating His return with excitement. What kind of clouds I don't know: Heavenly clouds? Clouds of glory? Earthly clouds, to shield Him from the World's view as He calls out His own? It doesn't matter; You know, Father, and that is sufficient for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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