The Puzzle Pieces

Hebrews 11:39-40

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

All the Old Testament saints were parts of God's Plan of the Ages. But they weren't the whole picture, just a part of it. We also are parts of the whole, and only with all of us together can we see how glorious God's Plan is for us. We still don't have the complete picture, but like a puzzle, the pieces that are in place are showing how the rest of the pieces will look; and God has given us that picture, in His prophets, the teachings of Jesus, and in the Epistles and Revelation. I've read the "end of the story" and I can see enough of the picture to fill in a lot of the pieces not accomplished yet. 

Father, dear, help us to to be Your hands, Your feet and Your voice, to further along Your Plan, to do, to say, to be where You would have us be, do and say. May Your workers toil in Your fields to reap Your crop, Your fruits of Righteousness and find all Your lost sheep, to carry them into the safety of Your fold. And may Your will be done on this Earth, the same as it is done in Heaven.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Same Respect For All Persons Before The Law

Exodus 12:49

The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you.

God gave this stipulation to Moses and Aaron even before they left Egypt to go to the Promised Land. It has always been the Law for God's people Israel, and it continues to be the Law in Israel today, even for those who are Arab and Palestinian who live in Israel among the Jews. The same laws apply to everyone. That is a real wonder, that even today the Israelis have the same respect for all persons, regardless of pedigree, even knowing that there are enemies among them.

Thank you, Father, for Your faithfulness to Your promises, that You are keeping Israel in Your hand, protecting and preserving them for That Day!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Mending Family Relationships

I John 4:19-21

We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother (or sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother (sister), whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (sister).

The concept of "family" is to include all differences, accepting one another as we are, whether we agree or not. We may disagree on many issues, and we will offend each other from time to time; but we are to voice our complaints in a loving way within the family, without blaming or criticism. We are to love one another unconditionally, no matter what it costs us, as God loves us. We can do that by talking out our differences and being willing to come to some kind of agreement.

My dear Father, please teach us how to live in our Earthly families as we will live in Your Heavenly family, in the love with which You love us. Help us to accept each family member, recognizing the good and admirable in each other's personalities and characters, and reaching out compassionately to one another expecting eventual reconciliation of the differences that have built walls between us. Show us how we can demolish those walls, one stone at a time.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Governmental Authorities

I Peter 2:13-14

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: Whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

This means whether we agree with his politics or not, as long as we are not required by that obedience to sin against God's Law of Love.

Verse 15

For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

So when we obey God and live our lives according to the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), then that will counteract "the ignorant talk of foolish men:" Foolish in denying God's ultimate authority, and ignorant in ignoring His Word and ways.

Verse 12

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the Day He visits us.

This says that they will see our good works now, but they will refuse to give God the glory until they are forced to on That Day.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Law, Love And Joy

John 15:10-12

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy will be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

We are to love one another with God's "agape" love, that unconditional, accepting love that is sacrificial. When we do that then we are obeying all the other laws that have been given. We are not under the Old Testament Law because are subject to the higher Law of Love. Just like pilots do not "break" the law of Gravity, but obey the higher law of Aerodynamics to fly their planes. We cannot "break" any of God's laws, including His moral law--we only break ourselves over them. When we obey His Law of Love, then we're cooperating with how He designed this world to work, and we reap the benefits of our actions and attitudes--His joy!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Garments Of Salvation

Isaiah 61:10-11

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of Salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

O my dear Father, thank you so much for Your great and precious promises! Thank you for Your perfect Faithfulness to remain True to fulfill every detail of what You have said! Teach me, Father, Your great Plan of the Ages, and my small part in that Plan, to bring in Your Kingdom here on this Earth, under King Jesus. Make me Your hands, Your feet, Your voice; put Your thoughts into my mind and allow Your glory to shine in me, and praise will redound to Your Name.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

A Muzzle On My Mouth

Psalm 39:1-2

I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. 

O my Father, help me to put a muzzle on my mouth, especially in the presence of those who do not yet know You. Put Your words in my mouth to boldly tell of Your greatness and goodness to all of Mankind You have made. Help me to speak only when Your words are on my tongue and keep the muzzle on if I have only my own words. Let me share Your Word with others, for it will not return to You empty, but will fulfill the purpose for which You have sent it.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!