Proverbs 20: 27
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.
Our human spirit of carnal life is God's searchlight in each of us. It lights up every crook and cranny of our lives, revealing all our faults and errors.
Are you ready to have your Maker peruse all your secrets? Have you confessed every known sin and fault? Have you let God's Blood that flowed in Jesus' veins and sprinkled His altar, the Cross, wash you spotless?
Jesus is the King over all kings, and the Lord over all lords. He is the Lord God Almighty of the Old Testament, the Son that was given to us (Isaiah 7:14) Who bore the sin-nature of all of us, saving all those who have not attained consciousness of sin, and bore the sins of all those who have.
At the end of this Earthly life we will all give account to the Lord God: the saved at the Bema Seat of Christ, and the lost at the Great White Throne.
Until then, during the few days of our life here below, we are in school to learn of Him and His ways.
If you have read this blog from the beginning, then you have had a Bible University education. You may know more than your own pastor.
But it is all to make us humble before God, because He has done it all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Be Careful To Do
Joshua 1: 7-8
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have sucess wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Proverbs 17: 20b
... And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
So often I find God repeating what He really wants us to understand. Over and over I read that we are to be careful to do everything He has told us to do. We must pay attention and put forth the effort to do what we know He's told us is right.
When we're not paying attention, it's easy to just slide off the course and fall into evil. It's easy. It's when we're not being careful to do what is right, is when we end up in trouble.
But to be successful and prosperous, we can follow and obey God's rules for living. He knows what we need to survive and prosper on this Earth He made for us. And He's given us the blueprint for success in His written Word.
Jesus said that when we seek His Kingdom and Righteousness as our first priority, then He would see to it that we will receive all the material resources of this World, also (Matthew 6:33).
But we need to expend the energy to be carefull and pay attention.
O my Father, as humans we are so prone to going our own way. You have given us intelligence, and we think we're smart enough to decide for ourselves. This was the sin of Eve, who thought she was doing a good thing.
But You told us to reason with You, to allow You to cleanse us of all our sin and rebellion, to be as white as snow, as though we'd never sinned (Isaiah 1:18). This is how we can be perfect, fit to live with You in Heaven.
This is the only way we can be pure enough to dwell with You where You live, to allow Your Lamb to be our personal Sacrifice, to take our place in death so that His blood, splashed on the sides of His altar, the Cross, can wash us from every shadow of a stain of sin. This is the only way.
This is why You sent Your Son, our Lord Christ Jesus--to be our Sacrifice. All Your laws were given to show us what Jesus would accomplish, as He fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets. So we need to pay attention to what You have told us, Father. Your written Word is Your love-letter to Your dear children.
When we are careful to pay attention to Your Word, and believe You, and trust You to be Who You are and to do what You said You would do, and we order our thinking processes and our daily lives according to Your thoughts for us--then we will be able to peacefully enjoy all the benefits as we are successful and prosper in this World, and live with You in Your Heaven forever.
And You will receive all the credit, all the glory, because this is how You designed it in the first place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have sucess wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Proverbs 17: 20b
... And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
So often I find God repeating what He really wants us to understand. Over and over I read that we are to be careful to do everything He has told us to do. We must pay attention and put forth the effort to do what we know He's told us is right.
When we're not paying attention, it's easy to just slide off the course and fall into evil. It's easy. It's when we're not being careful to do what is right, is when we end up in trouble.
But to be successful and prosperous, we can follow and obey God's rules for living. He knows what we need to survive and prosper on this Earth He made for us. And He's given us the blueprint for success in His written Word.
Jesus said that when we seek His Kingdom and Righteousness as our first priority, then He would see to it that we will receive all the material resources of this World, also (Matthew 6:33).
But we need to expend the energy to be carefull and pay attention.
O my Father, as humans we are so prone to going our own way. You have given us intelligence, and we think we're smart enough to decide for ourselves. This was the sin of Eve, who thought she was doing a good thing.
But You told us to reason with You, to allow You to cleanse us of all our sin and rebellion, to be as white as snow, as though we'd never sinned (Isaiah 1:18). This is how we can be perfect, fit to live with You in Heaven.
This is the only way we can be pure enough to dwell with You where You live, to allow Your Lamb to be our personal Sacrifice, to take our place in death so that His blood, splashed on the sides of His altar, the Cross, can wash us from every shadow of a stain of sin. This is the only way.
This is why You sent Your Son, our Lord Christ Jesus--to be our Sacrifice. All Your laws were given to show us what Jesus would accomplish, as He fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets. So we need to pay attention to what You have told us, Father. Your written Word is Your love-letter to Your dear children.
When we are careful to pay attention to Your Word, and believe You, and trust You to be Who You are and to do what You said You would do, and we order our thinking processes and our daily lives according to Your thoughts for us--then we will be able to peacefully enjoy all the benefits as we are successful and prosper in this World, and live with You in Your Heaven forever.
And You will receive all the credit, all the glory, because this is how You designed it in the first place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, December 3, 2018
To Obey Or Be Carried Away
Jeremiah 52: 28-30
These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away into exile: In the seventh year ... In the eighteenth year ... In the twenty-third year ...
Proverbs 14: 8a, 15
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way ... The naive believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps.
God's chosen people Israel (Judah) were warned but did not turn to God, so He sent them into exile. They still refused to obey God, and more were carried away. They continued to rebel against God and the authority God had placed over them, and they were completely destroyed and carried away into a far-away foreign country and culture; and left no Temple, no houses, not even a City Wall standing in their own land.
O my Father, please teach me to be obedient to whatever authorities You place over me, for accountability and the umbrella of protection.
Help me to understand the desires behind whatever rules are imposed on me; help me to discern my place in Your heirarchy of authority and humbly submit to their rules.
Give me balance so that I will not be just a legalistic rule observer, but to joyfully submit to the spirit of the laws.
Help me to be aware of not only my words, but my whole way of life; that I may consider my steps and overtake whatever naivety would shield me from the Truth of my situation.
Take my hand, Father, as my Guide, to lead me into Your paths of righteousness. Hold me tightly, Father, don't let me slip away, don't let me pull away, or wander to the left or the right. Lead me aright, straight on Your path, and help me think Your thoughts, reason with Your logic, and believe You implicitly, as well as believe in You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away into exile: In the seventh year ... In the eighteenth year ... In the twenty-third year ...
Proverbs 14: 8a, 15
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way ... The naive believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps.
God's chosen people Israel (Judah) were warned but did not turn to God, so He sent them into exile. They still refused to obey God, and more were carried away. They continued to rebel against God and the authority God had placed over them, and they were completely destroyed and carried away into a far-away foreign country and culture; and left no Temple, no houses, not even a City Wall standing in their own land.
O my Father, please teach me to be obedient to whatever authorities You place over me, for accountability and the umbrella of protection.
Help me to understand the desires behind whatever rules are imposed on me; help me to discern my place in Your heirarchy of authority and humbly submit to their rules.
Give me balance so that I will not be just a legalistic rule observer, but to joyfully submit to the spirit of the laws.
Help me to be aware of not only my words, but my whole way of life; that I may consider my steps and overtake whatever naivety would shield me from the Truth of my situation.
Take my hand, Father, as my Guide, to lead me into Your paths of righteousness. Hold me tightly, Father, don't let me slip away, don't let me pull away, or wander to the left or the right. Lead me aright, straight on Your path, and help me think Your thoughts, reason with Your logic, and believe You implicitly, as well as believe in You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Whose Way Is Blameless
Proverbs 13: 3a, 6a
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless.
O my Father, make my way blameless, search my heart and expose what is not pleasing to You; clean out the wounds and apply Your balm of Gilead to sooth and heal!
That I may see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, perceive with Your understanding, and walk in Your ways.
Pace my stride with Yours, that I not run ahead or lag behind, not veer to the left or the right, not wander of in inattention, or pull away in fear or rebellion.
Strengthen me and grant me Your peace; keep Your arm firmly around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth, as You have so graciously done for me in the past. That righteousness would guard me this day and henceforth.
My confidence is in only You, my Creator and Redeemer, my Lord and sovereign King, my Teacher and my Husband. I am desperate for You, as the hart pants for the waterbrook.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless.
O my Father, make my way blameless, search my heart and expose what is not pleasing to You; clean out the wounds and apply Your balm of Gilead to sooth and heal!
That I may see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, perceive with Your understanding, and walk in Your ways.
Pace my stride with Yours, that I not run ahead or lag behind, not veer to the left or the right, not wander of in inattention, or pull away in fear or rebellion.
Strengthen me and grant me Your peace; keep Your arm firmly around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth, as You have so graciously done for me in the past. That righteousness would guard me this day and henceforth.
My confidence is in only You, my Creator and Redeemer, my Lord and sovereign King, my Teacher and my Husband. I am desperate for You, as the hart pants for the waterbrook.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, December 1, 2018
From One Every Nation
Acts 17: 26
And He made from one [blood], every Nation of mankind to live on all the face of the Earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.
God made from one couple every person in every Nation, all Mankind is of one "blood" which means we can all intermarry with one another and produce offspring. The different "races" are all environmental, and skin color is only superficial, only skin-deep. We are all the same in our innards.
We are all one Race, the Race of Mankind; we are male and female members of Mankind, made so, so we can propagate our Race on the Earth, and build our World upon it.
Even scientists who have no knowledge of God or His ways, have found that they can trace, through microscopic mitrocondrial studies, that every person alive is descended from one woman whom they call Eve. This is amazing.
And scientists have also found that the molecule Laminin, the "glue" that holds everything together, is in the form and shape of three strands twined together into a cross. The three Persons being One, the Cross for Christ, in Whom all things are "held together" (Colossians 1:17). God is amazing to put into what He has made the clues to Who He is and what He's done!
O my Father, thank You so much for Who You are, and for revealing Yourself to us that we may know You! Thank You for Your Word, for writing it down (words that stay [The Dark Crystal], they don't change) so we can know we have the Truth.
Thank You for Your Spirit of Truth to live in our own spirits, to give us Life, and teach us Your ways: to help us grow in discernment and understanding in studying Your Word; and our hearts grow in Your Love for us, in loving You, ourselves, and others as ourselves. And to understand how to love others with Your Love instead of our own, human passion.
Father, we tend to be so proud and rebellious, to think that we can figure it all out on our own and put it all together without You!
O my dear Father God, I pray for those scientists who are using the intelligence You gave them to find out Your secrets of how You put together all the material stuff in the Earth, and us, too. Please open their eyes to see that it is You Who have designed it all, and to come to know You as the Maker and Redeemer.
Grant them repentance, and Your gift of faith to believe You, as well as to believe in You. You are our Source, You are our Standard, You are our Life!
Father, please continue to prepare Your children, Your church, for the trials ahead, and continue to send out workers into Your fields, white to harvest. Father, allow me to go as Your worker, to help find some of Your lost sheep, to draw them to Yourself and gather them into that One Fold with One Shepherd.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He made from one [blood], every Nation of mankind to live on all the face of the Earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.
God made from one couple every person in every Nation, all Mankind is of one "blood" which means we can all intermarry with one another and produce offspring. The different "races" are all environmental, and skin color is only superficial, only skin-deep. We are all the same in our innards.
We are all one Race, the Race of Mankind; we are male and female members of Mankind, made so, so we can propagate our Race on the Earth, and build our World upon it.
Even scientists who have no knowledge of God or His ways, have found that they can trace, through microscopic mitrocondrial studies, that every person alive is descended from one woman whom they call Eve. This is amazing.
And scientists have also found that the molecule Laminin, the "glue" that holds everything together, is in the form and shape of three strands twined together into a cross. The three Persons being One, the Cross for Christ, in Whom all things are "held together" (Colossians 1:17). God is amazing to put into what He has made the clues to Who He is and what He's done!
O my Father, thank You so much for Who You are, and for revealing Yourself to us that we may know You! Thank You for Your Word, for writing it down (words that stay [The Dark Crystal], they don't change) so we can know we have the Truth.
Thank You for Your Spirit of Truth to live in our own spirits, to give us Life, and teach us Your ways: to help us grow in discernment and understanding in studying Your Word; and our hearts grow in Your Love for us, in loving You, ourselves, and others as ourselves. And to understand how to love others with Your Love instead of our own, human passion.
Father, we tend to be so proud and rebellious, to think that we can figure it all out on our own and put it all together without You!
O my dear Father God, I pray for those scientists who are using the intelligence You gave them to find out Your secrets of how You put together all the material stuff in the Earth, and us, too. Please open their eyes to see that it is You Who have designed it all, and to come to know You as the Maker and Redeemer.
Grant them repentance, and Your gift of faith to believe You, as well as to believe in You. You are our Source, You are our Standard, You are our Life!
Father, please continue to prepare Your children, Your church, for the trials ahead, and continue to send out workers into Your fields, white to harvest. Father, allow me to go as Your worker, to help find some of Your lost sheep, to draw them to Yourself and gather them into that One Fold with One Shepherd.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, November 30, 2018
To Correct And Reprove
Proverbs 9: 7-10
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Have you ever found yourself insulted and dishonored by someone you cared about enough to correct? If you approached this person in love, and spoke gently, then they may be a scoffer.
But if you got into an argument and found yourself yelling at each other, then it could only be them reacting to your negative approach.
I always need to examine my own heart and attitude before I approach a loved one. Whenever I have skipped this essential step, the response has been negative.
We need to be naive only in what is evil and worldly, but very shrewd and wise in the righteous ways of God. So we will have discernment concerning the people we choose as our friends, and how to treat those who are scoffers and wicked.
God sees only in black-and-white, whereas we tend to see all the grays in the morals being acted out among us.
O my Father, please give us Your eyes to see the evil and the good, give us Your ears to hear what is being meant when words are said or written. Teach us to respond to every person in the way that is appropriate to each one, as Jesus demonstrated when He walked this Earth.
He didn't question the Jewish Leaders, even when they questioned Him. He knew their tricks, and always answered appropriately. And He knew who of them were unteachable.
Please help us as Your children, to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, and think Your thoughts toward us. Help us believe every Word You speak to each of us, and cultivate Your Love and compassion in our hearts and attitudes.
Then our words will show forth Your care for all of Your creation, and every person You have made, all of us according to Your own image and likeness.
And You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance, realizing their culpability toward You.
So give us Your words, Father, to discern and find all those who are Your lost sheep; and show us when to keep our counsel to ourselves, to not call down insults or dishonor to ourselves.
Dear Father, You have honored us in granting us Your gift of Faith to believe You and be born into Your own Family. Please help us to have the respect and love for ourselves that is appropriate, so that we will love our neighbors with that same love.
Teach us what to say, and when to close our mouths.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Have you ever found yourself insulted and dishonored by someone you cared about enough to correct? If you approached this person in love, and spoke gently, then they may be a scoffer.
But if you got into an argument and found yourself yelling at each other, then it could only be them reacting to your negative approach.
I always need to examine my own heart and attitude before I approach a loved one. Whenever I have skipped this essential step, the response has been negative.
We need to be naive only in what is evil and worldly, but very shrewd and wise in the righteous ways of God. So we will have discernment concerning the people we choose as our friends, and how to treat those who are scoffers and wicked.
God sees only in black-and-white, whereas we tend to see all the grays in the morals being acted out among us.
O my Father, please give us Your eyes to see the evil and the good, give us Your ears to hear what is being meant when words are said or written. Teach us to respond to every person in the way that is appropriate to each one, as Jesus demonstrated when He walked this Earth.
He didn't question the Jewish Leaders, even when they questioned Him. He knew their tricks, and always answered appropriately. And He knew who of them were unteachable.
Please help us as Your children, to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, and think Your thoughts toward us. Help us believe every Word You speak to each of us, and cultivate Your Love and compassion in our hearts and attitudes.
Then our words will show forth Your care for all of Your creation, and every person You have made, all of us according to Your own image and likeness.
And You are not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance, realizing their culpability toward You.
So give us Your words, Father, to discern and find all those who are Your lost sheep; and show us when to keep our counsel to ourselves, to not call down insults or dishonor to ourselves.
Dear Father, You have honored us in granting us Your gift of Faith to believe You and be born into Your own Family. Please help us to have the respect and love for ourselves that is appropriate, so that we will love our neighbors with that same love.
Teach us what to say, and when to close our mouths.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Righteousness Street
Psalm 85: 13
Righteousness will go before Him, and will make His footsteps into a way.
What a beautiful picture this presents! That God's perfect Righteousness will pave a road, a street, with the footsteps of Christ!
O Father, set my feet on that Road! To follow my Lord closely, hard on His heels! That Righteousness would pave over all the stones, all the potholes and obstacles that would have caused me to stumble; that I would have Your wisdom and understanding and discernment.
Father, place Your arm around my shoulders, and Your hand over my mouth, that I would follow Your lead out of my ways into Your path for me, with Your thoughts and attitudes, not mine.
Put Your kindness under my tongue, Father, and fill my heart with Your love and compassion, to overflow into my attitudes and out my mouth.
My life is Yours, my Lord, my times are in Your hand. Glorify Yourself in all the events that are now unfolding and working out. And continue to send out workers into Your fields that are white to harvest; find every one of Your lost sheep, to draw them all into the safety of Your One Fold with One Shepherd.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Righteousness will go before Him, and will make His footsteps into a way.
What a beautiful picture this presents! That God's perfect Righteousness will pave a road, a street, with the footsteps of Christ!
O Father, set my feet on that Road! To follow my Lord closely, hard on His heels! That Righteousness would pave over all the stones, all the potholes and obstacles that would have caused me to stumble; that I would have Your wisdom and understanding and discernment.
Father, place Your arm around my shoulders, and Your hand over my mouth, that I would follow Your lead out of my ways into Your path for me, with Your thoughts and attitudes, not mine.
Put Your kindness under my tongue, Father, and fill my heart with Your love and compassion, to overflow into my attitudes and out my mouth.
My life is Yours, my Lord, my times are in Your hand. Glorify Yourself in all the events that are now unfolding and working out. And continue to send out workers into Your fields that are white to harvest; find every one of Your lost sheep, to draw them all into the safety of Your One Fold with One Shepherd.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)