Wrestling In Prayer

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras . . . is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

How do we wrestle in prayer? When we cry out to God with tears? When we pray so earnestly and honestly that we weep for those we are praying for? When we spend nights in deep pain in grief for the sorrows we bear for those we care for? 

Please, dear Father, give us the words to give to our dear ones to encourage them to become mature in their psyches and minds and to be united as families. Father, You know how fractured and broken we are, when we agree on almost nothing. Help!

Even so come, Lord Jesus!

Actions And Truth

I John 3:18-20a

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This, then, is how we know that we belong to the Truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us.

When do our hearts condemn us? When do we feel guilty of wrong when we've done something good? Why would our hearts condemn us when we've loved with actions and truth instead of mere words?

If we have loved with actions and Truth, then that's when we can set our hearts at rest in His presence. If our hearts are condemning us, when we feel guilty, it's either when we've only used words and done nothing, or it's a false guilt in feeling we "haven't done enough." But we can never do "enough" to pay God back for what He's already done for us in the finished work He's accomplished in what Jesus Christ has done through His Cross and Resurrection. He has already done it all for and in us; we are to just work it out in our own daily lives. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

He Loves And Teaches Us

Psalm 119:124

Deal with Your servant according to Your love and teach me Your decrees.

When God teaches us His rules and regulations, it is so we will learn how to love Him and one another. He made this Earth for us, then He made us from it. He set everything in motion to operate smoothly, and wants us to maintain that equilibrium, taking care of the Earth and one another. He loves us so much, that He told us how to live, and how to relate to one another. When we know and follow His commandments and decrees, His ways, then we benefit and He gets the credit. We are blessed and He is glorified. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Blessings Versus Foolishness

Proverbs 13:19

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

God is our Creator. He made this Earth specifically for us; He put here everything we need for a full and satisfying life. And He gave us His Word, to tell us how to use this world for our benefit, and how to relate to one another in loving relationships. The Bible calls these Instructions laws, precepts, commandments, decrees, statutes and promises. When we obey these regulations and live our lives in the attitudes of love for one another, the result is that the good we long for is fulfilled, and we experience God's blessings. 

Fools are those who refuse to cooperate with God or trust Him, thinking that they know better. Their pride blinds them to God's ways, so they hate what is good and enjoy perverse and twisted concepts. Then they wonder why their lives are so miserable. They refuse to turn from their evil to the only One who can give them what we all desire: a happy, fulfilled life.

When the World happens on attitudes and ways of life that really work, they may not even realize that these are Scriptural principles, but whether they believe or not, these ways still work, because this is how we're made. How much better for them if they would find God in their searches, and decide to let Him into their minds and hearts. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Inquiring Of The Lord--Every Time

Joshua 5:13-6:21

Before the Battle of Jericho, the Commander of the Lord's Army appeared to Joshua to give him specific instructions. Joshua had the men follow these detailed plans, and they gained the victory.

Then, before each battle, when they inquired of the Lord, they obeyed and won.

But when a different situation arose (in Joshua 9:1-19), they forgot to inquire of the Lord (v. 14) and made a treaty with people who turned out to be their neighbors. So they had to keep their word, and not attack them. So they were aware of the principle of Psalm 15:4b, Who keeps his oath even when it hurts, written by King David many years later.

So I must never forget to pray before opening my mouth, or typing and email, or sending a text--every time!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God's Promises To Us

II Peter 1:3-4

His Divine power -- Jesus' power.

has given us -- Given to us as a free gift.

everything we need -- Nothing is left out.

for life and godliness -- To live our lives here on Earth with the attitudes and strength of God.

through our knowledge of Him -- The deeper we go in our study of His written Word.

Who called us -- He is the One who sought us and found us and called us by name to Himself.

by His own glory -- Jesus' own shining, authority, credit.

and goodness. -- Right-ness, beauty, accurateness.

Through these -- His glory and goodness.

He has given us -- A free gift, not earned by us.

His very great and precious promises, -- What He has said He would do for us is worth more than all the riches of this world, and more certain to be fulfilled than that the Sun will rise tomorrow morning.

so that through them -- Through His promises.

you may participate -- Take part in, be a part of.

in the Divine nature -- God's own Nature, which He gave us when we were born into His own family, the New Birth, Birth from above.

and escape -- avoid, get away from.

the corruption -- twistedness, decay, rottenness.

in the world -- In this Earth, the World System, human society and government.

caused by -- Resulting from.

evil desires -- What we naturally want: selfish, vengeful, prideful wants to have more earthly possessions, more admiration and worship from other people, more comfort and pleasure to our physical bodies; all against the good and glorious that God wants for us.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:1-58 (the whole chapter)

This whole chapter is about Resurrection: Jesus Christ's Resurrection (vs. 1-34), then our own Resurrection (vs. 35-57). How, because Jesus was raised, we will be, too. And about the Resurrection body we will receive at that time, the time of, the last trumpet (v. 52). That's when our perishable body, that is vulnerable to death, will put on the imperishable body, that cannot die; our mortal body will be changed into an immortal body--that's the Day that the prophesy in Isaiah 25:8 and in Hosea 13:14 will come true, that, Death will be swallowed up in victory; O Death, where is your victory? O Sheol, where is your sting?

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory (over death) through our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 54-57)

Our response to this Truth (v. 58): We are to stand firm. Let nothing in this world's philosophy move us away from this Truth. Then give our lives fully to the furtherance of God's Kingdom, that His will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, knowing our rewards will be eternal!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!