Live Up To What We Have

Philippians 3:16

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

We all know what we know. We have some idea of how God loves us, and some of what he has revealed to us of Himself, of who He is. We have learned that we ought to be kind, to love our neighbor, to help the poor, because that's how God is good to us. But how often do we just think of ourselves, of what would serve our purposes, of what would please us. We even sometimes fool ourselves into thinking that we are working for God's purposes, when we're really just following our own agenda. 

God has given each of us different combinations of personality, natural abilities and talents, and various spiritual gifts. Each one of us is different from every other one, even identical twins are different from each other. So the plans He has for each of us is according to the way He made each of us, different from every other. God made us all different, so that everything would get done. You are concerned for the environment? Good, we need to take care of this planet God has put us in charge of. You are concerned for the animals about to go extinct, or are being treated shamefully? Good, they are here for our use, but not abuse. You are concerned for the children who don't have enough to eat? Good, they are precious, and we can do much to meet their needs. You are concerned for the lost, and desire that they hear the Gospel to further God's Kingdom here on earth? Good, that's the most pressing need, and we are to pray that God sends more workers into the fields that are already white to harvest. 

Let us all do what we can, and everything will get done.

O my Father, You have been so good to me, and You continue to shower upon me Your goodness, every day and in every way. Thank you so much for all the ways You have taken care of me each day, and all the wonderful blessings You shower upon me continually. Please help me to remember Your ways as I leave my house to spend time with people, people You love. Let me get my focus off of myself and actually see them as You see them, to listen to them with Your ears, and enable me to be Your hands, Your feet, Your voice, to meet their needs in ways that will benefit them; and You will receive the credit, the glory. Help me to live up to all that I have already attained.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Johnathan's Love For David

II Samuel 1:25-26

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Johnathan lies slain on your heights.

I grieve for you, Johnathan my brother; You were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

David was a man who knew God, so he knew what real love was--he knew the unconditional love of God, and he recognized that love also in Johnathan. That love is not physical. None of David's wives were actually in love with him; even Michal, who thought she loved him, only loved the idea of him as the great hero and king, and when he took off his royal robes and danced in the common tunic before the Lord, she hated him. Johnathan loved David for who he was.

God loves us for who we are, too. This love is pure, it is true, it is deeper than we can know, and nothing we can do will ever change this love, to increase it or decrease it. This is the love that sent His only Son, Jesus, to become a Man, to pay our debt of sin for each of us, so that now God is free to forgive us. He will draw us to Himself, teach us His ways (for they are not our ways), meet all our needs, and help us to have the victory over all our hurts, bad habits and hangups. He will show us how to solve all our problems, heal all the wounds we have or have inflicted on others, mend our family relationships, and use us as His hands and feet to reap the fields of the world, ripe to harvest, sharing His Gospel, His Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection.

God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." That is His love for us all. But He will not force us. He gently calls, and those who refuse to hear His call, who rebel against His authority as Creator, and choose to go their own way; He will allow to go their own way, away from goodness, away from order, away from light and love, and allow them their choice to spend eternity without Him. But to those who want to know the Truth, who make the effort to seek Him, and desire to know His ways; He will call, and they will answer; He will draw and they will come; He will save and redeem from the bondage that has enslaved them, giving them the power and authority to make good choices to do good and righteous acts. This is what He has done in and for me, and He wants to do the same for you, too.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Martha And Mary

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I don't think I've understood this passage sufficiently, as I've seen it as reinforcing my laziness. I tend to be more of a Mary, who "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said," rather than actually doing "all the preparations that had to be made." I've always been happy to sit with the guys discussing deep theological issues, while the women toiled in the kitchen. It seems I can always be content to sit while others worked. There will always be things that have to be done, and someone has to do them. But Martha was distracted, worried and upset; Mary was relaxed. I'm trying to find the balance here.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Life And Death, Blessing And Cursing

Deuteronomy 30:15,19

Moses said: See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil. I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your children may live.

"Choose life, that both you and your children may live" would make a good bumper sticker.

Today America has chosen death for our children. We call it choice, but only if it is a choice for death, and by this we have chosen God's curse upon our once great nation.

My prayer is that God would return His righteousness to America before the end. Jesus is coming soon, we don't know how soon, but all the signs to look for seem to be present all at the same time today. We need leaders who have a high personal moral standard, and will not compromise the Truth for convenience or political gain. As a Democratic Republic, we as Americans are responsible to elect those officials who will represent us in the halls of Congress, and the Executive branch. When good men do nothing, it leaves the evil men to prevail, which they have done. If each one of us will do what we can do, we will again be the salt and light this world needs.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Effort And Envy

Matthew 20:15

Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?

Our society today has elected a government that encourages envy. We have God-given rights, including life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. But our government has decided to punish the achievers and give to those who have not put forth the effort. We have been denied our right to do what we want with our own money, and have instead been forced to fund many programs that reward indolence and laziness; that do nothing to better the citizens, but instead to make them poor, dependent subjects. This creates in them the belief that society owes them a living, without contributing anything useful or valuable to that society, of getting something for nothing. But there's no "free lunch" in this world, somebody has to pay. The only funds any government has are the taxes they have assessed on those citizens who have earned an income by providing some value that is worth getting paid for. So those who are responsible and provide for the needs of the people are the ones who have to pay for the ones who do not have a job, who do nothing to contribute, so "need" to have someone else pay for their food, housing, etc. The number of those who today depend on the government for their income far outnumbers those who are unable to provide for their own needs. Our government keeps these people poor, in that it would cost them their hand-out if they sought more self-respecting means, so it maintains power over them to control them. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Importance Of His Rules To Us

Psalm 19

(1) The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the Skies proclaim the Work of His hands.

(2) Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

The sky and the sun, moon, stars and planets are all displayed before us all, no matter where we are in the world, we can see them.

(3) There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

(4) Their voice goes out into all the Earth, their words to the ends of the world.

No matter what the culture or language, no one in the world has ever denied that they are there, but looked at them, studied them, wrote stories about them and wondered about them.

In the Heavens He has pitched a tent for the Sun,

(5) which is like a Bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

(6) It rises at one end of the Heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

The sun is our star, the mighty light that gives life to our world. It rises in the East and sets in the West, and always returns each morning to rise again; it gives heat and light to every part of this Earth, as regular as clockwork. (All our time-keeping systems are based on the Sun's relationship with the Earth.)

(7) The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

(8) The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

(9) The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.

God's Law, Statutes, Precepts, Commands and Ordinances are all His rules for living, like the Manufacturer's instructions, so we can know what to do, how to behave in this life for our best benefit. He is our Maker, and whether we believe in Him or not, He has put everything together so that if we follow His instructions we will have a good life in this world. Also, though, This "Fear of the Lord" is a reverential awe of God's greatness, power and authority as the Creator and Owner of us, our world and all the Universe; and He always will be. We enter into a much deeper, more satisfying appreciation when we acknowledge who God is and His roles in everything that happens. 

(10) They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

These rules are worth more than all the resources of this world, because in following them we can not only have these worldly resources, but will also enjoy deep, satisfying relationships with our loved ones, and we will come to know God in a personal, intimate way, realizing how much He loves us and wants to meet all our needs, and has, in fact, met our most pressing, urgent needs already.

(11) By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them is great reward.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Not knowing these rules, or knowing them and not following them, leaves me liable to suffering adverse consequences; but if I do follow them, then I can expect to experience prosperity, not only in finances and worldly things, but also in my relationships with my family members and friends and with God.

(12) Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Even David realized that he may be in denial of parts of his character that would fall short of God's expectations of him, and asks for cleansing of these attitudes.

(13) Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. 

He asks God to help him make good decisions, right choices, and not deliberately do anything that he knows is not right, knowing that a bad choice made repeatedly will become a bad habit, and is addictive.

Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

David wants to live a right, righteous life, making wise decisions, and choosing to do what is right in every situation.

(14) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Now he is asking that all these thoughts and the words he has written in this song all be according to God's Truth, and that this teaching will cause God to smile upon him, in helping others also know God better and realize how good God is in giving us His rules for living this life.

O my Father, I also join my prayer with David's in this Psalm, that Your rules are perfect, they energize my psyche; they are trustworthy, teaching me wisdom; they are right,  putting the Joy of the Lord in my heart; they are radiant, enlightening the eyes of my understanding; they are pure, sure to stand forever; they are precious, in that they will always be right with no shades of gray; and they are sweet, truly sweeter than the sweetest substances we have that we use in our food. They affect every realm of living in a most positive way, making everything pleasant and enjoyable. And they will last forever, through all eternity, as we spend forever learning more and more of how good You are as our God, how extensive is Your love, how perfect is Your judgment, Your wisdom, knowledge, power, authority, and graciousness. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Spiritual Self-Deceit

Psalm 32:1-2

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

O my Father, please cleanse my heart, forgive my sins and transgressions and heal my spirit of the deceit that has lied to me and hidden my faults from myself. Keep me open and aware of my own thoughts, attitudes and beliefs; that Your Truth would set me free from these chains of denial of what resides in my self. Bring it all out for cleansing.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!