"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent"--Revelation 2:4-5
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The book of Revelation was addressed and sent to the seven literal churches that were in Asia. This is the first letter to the first of the seven churches, the church at Ephesus. A letter specifically addressed to the Church of Ephesus from the Lord himself. I am pretty sure they probably sat up and took notice.
The church was off to a good start. He had much to commend them for. He says that He knows their works, their labor, their patience and that they cannot bear those who are evil. He tells them that they have discernment and have kept false doctrine and false teachers out of the church. He commends them for persevering and not growing weary...Then he drops the bomb. The church of Ephesus had a fatal flaw. They had left their first love. They had not lost it...they had left it. Their love had gone cold. They were still doing what they always did, what was expected, the work of the church was being accomplished, but it had all become a duty rather than a "want to" or a "get to". They were still receiving honor and respect from the people around them. They were doing the works that they thought God had called them to do, but it was empty and the Lord said that if they did not repent and do the first works again, He would remove their lampstand. Sadly, that is exactly what happened to this very strong, vibrant church that the Apostle Paul had poured his heart into.
Love is the supreme commandment. The commandment that fulfills all the law and the prophets. The love of God is central. We are to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. This is the first commandment. We love Him so much that we want to spend time with Him. We love Him so much that we want to obey Him. We love Him so much that we want to serve Him. We love Him so much that we put Him first in our lives above all else. Are you getting the point. Love is not a duty. Anyone who has ever been in love knows this. It is a joy...being with that person and spending time with them becomes our number one desire. The love the church of Ephesus had for Jesus had grown cold. What was left was "going through the motions." He was no longer their consuming passion...God wants to be your consuming passion.
The apostle Paul's letters are filled with this kind of passion for Christ. For Paul to live was Christ and to die gain.
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 3:7-14
Truly the love of Christ was Paul's driving passion...the motivating force behind all that He did. God wants everything we do to be motivated by our love for Him. The problem in Ephesus was that although they still had the works, labor and patience of the past, their motivation had changed. Love for their Lord was no longer the force behind what they did. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 says this:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
God is love...if it is missing, we are empty vessels that are good for nothing. Ask yourself these questions. Do I love Jesus more now than in the past? Do I desire His presence in my life more now than before? Am I pressing on toward the goal...moving forward with my love for Him as the driving force? If not, Jesus tells us to remember, repent and do the first works.
Remember from where you have fallen. Remember the mire that He pulled you from. Remember how lost you were...how desperate you were. Remember the condition of your heart before your redemption occurred. Then remember the joyful explosion that occurred in your heart at the time of your salvation. Remember the transformation that occurred. Remember how much you have been forgiven. If you cannot remember back to a time when you were not Christian...get on your knees and thank Him. Find someone who does remember...listen to their stories of what their life was like before Christ. Ask them to tell you the story of their transformation.
Next we are to repent. Repent means to go in the other direction and it will look like something in your life when it happens. Confess your sin. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is a commandment. Confess the sin of leaving your first love and of allowing your love to grow cold. Confess the sin of doing the outward without the inward heart of love for your Lord.
The last thing is to repeat the first works. What does that mean? If you have ever been in love think back to the first days, weeks, months or years of your love. Think about what you did during that time and do it again. Remember when you carried your bible everywhere...went to church three or four times a week...prayed without ceasing...worshiped Him in song. Go back to the time when God's love for you swept you away. Jesus says remember, repent and do the first work again. He wants to be your consuming passion. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Return.
Love
Mom
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
On Being at Ease and Settled on Your Dregs
Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed. “ Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,--Jeremiah 48:11-12
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
We have reached Chapter 48 in Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a ministry to the Jewish people for more than 40 years. In chapter one God told him that he would be a prophet to the nations. Chapter 46 begins his "international" ministry where he speaks to the nations around Israel. God is speaking to Moab in Chapter 48.
Here God, speaking through Jeremiah, pronounces plunder and great destruction on Moab. Moab's judgment occurred because of her immense pride. She was powerful, prosperous and had much, but she did not have the Lord. Destruction came without warning and judgment was swift and thorough. Her pride was her undoing. Joy and gladness ceased and God caused the wine to fail from the winepresses. The sound of joy and celebration was no more. In its place was weeping and wailing.
“ We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride, And of the haughtiness of his heart.” --Jeremiah 48:29
A general lamentation On all the housetops of Moab, And in its streets; For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.--Jeremiah 48:38
We are described in the Bible as vessels. Some are for honor and some are for dishonor. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that Christ dwells in these earthen vessels of ours. We have this treasure (Christ) in our earthen vessels so that the the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.
"Moab had settled in the dregs." What does that mean? On the surface it means that Moab had had a quiet history. They were a settled people. The imagery used is of wine making. In the production of sweet wine, the juice was left in the wineskin until the sediment of dregs were settled on the bottom. Once that occurred it was poured into another skin. If left too long in the same vessel, the dregs that had settled at the bottom would make the wine bitter...so as soon as the dregs settled, the wine was poured into another vessel. Each pouring separated more of the dregs. This continued until the dregs were removed and the pure, sweet wine remained. Moab had never been poured...she had settled into the dregs...bitterness, pride and sin filled her vessel.
Trials pour out the bitterness in our lives until the pure sweetness of the Lord remains. Changes take place in our hearts during our trials. Pride leaves, self-sufficiency leaves and we are on our knees beseeching our God for help and mercy in our time of need. We begin to understand that all our good is of Him and that apart from Him we can do nothing. Our dependence on Him increases and our self-will and self-desires (which you know...are the dregs) are removed. The pouring out process is painful, but the results are a vessel that is useful and can be used to shine the light of Jesus to others.
Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine. Wine represents joy. Joy is the first manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit which is love. Jesus loved us so much that He poured out His life for the joy that was set before Him...US!
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”--Matthew 26:27-28
What joy was wrought through the pouring out of God's Son on the cross. The darkest moment in the history of the world, but through it came the shining beacon of light that brings the hope of eternal life to all men.
When we believe, He begins this work in us and is faithful to complete it. When we allow ourselves to be poured out in surrender to Him, our lives become a source of light and refreshment for those around us.. He takes us from suffering to suffering so that our bitter dregs are removed and the pure sweet wine of Jesus remains.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.--2 Timothy 2:20-21
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.--Romans 8:18
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.--2nd Corinthians 4:7
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
We have reached Chapter 48 in Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a ministry to the Jewish people for more than 40 years. In chapter one God told him that he would be a prophet to the nations. Chapter 46 begins his "international" ministry where he speaks to the nations around Israel. God is speaking to Moab in Chapter 48.
Here God, speaking through Jeremiah, pronounces plunder and great destruction on Moab. Moab's judgment occurred because of her immense pride. She was powerful, prosperous and had much, but she did not have the Lord. Destruction came without warning and judgment was swift and thorough. Her pride was her undoing. Joy and gladness ceased and God caused the wine to fail from the winepresses. The sound of joy and celebration was no more. In its place was weeping and wailing.
“ We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride, And of the haughtiness of his heart.” --Jeremiah 48:29
A general lamentation On all the housetops of Moab, And in its streets; For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.--Jeremiah 48:38
We are described in the Bible as vessels. Some are for honor and some are for dishonor. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that Christ dwells in these earthen vessels of ours. We have this treasure (Christ) in our earthen vessels so that the the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.
"Moab had settled in the dregs." What does that mean? On the surface it means that Moab had had a quiet history. They were a settled people. The imagery used is of wine making. In the production of sweet wine, the juice was left in the wineskin until the sediment of dregs were settled on the bottom. Once that occurred it was poured into another skin. If left too long in the same vessel, the dregs that had settled at the bottom would make the wine bitter...so as soon as the dregs settled, the wine was poured into another vessel. Each pouring separated more of the dregs. This continued until the dregs were removed and the pure, sweet wine remained. Moab had never been poured...she had settled into the dregs...bitterness, pride and sin filled her vessel.
Trials pour out the bitterness in our lives until the pure sweetness of the Lord remains. Changes take place in our hearts during our trials. Pride leaves, self-sufficiency leaves and we are on our knees beseeching our God for help and mercy in our time of need. We begin to understand that all our good is of Him and that apart from Him we can do nothing. Our dependence on Him increases and our self-will and self-desires (which you know...are the dregs) are removed. The pouring out process is painful, but the results are a vessel that is useful and can be used to shine the light of Jesus to others.
Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine. Wine represents joy. Joy is the first manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit which is love. Jesus loved us so much that He poured out His life for the joy that was set before Him...US!
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”--Matthew 26:27-28
What joy was wrought through the pouring out of God's Son on the cross. The darkest moment in the history of the world, but through it came the shining beacon of light that brings the hope of eternal life to all men.
When we believe, He begins this work in us and is faithful to complete it. When we allow ourselves to be poured out in surrender to Him, our lives become a source of light and refreshment for those around us.. He takes us from suffering to suffering so that our bitter dregs are removed and the pure sweet wine of Jesus remains.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.--2 Timothy 2:20-21
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.--Romans 8:18
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.--2nd Corinthians 4:7
Love
Mom
Friday, January 28, 2011
Woe is Me Now!
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”’
“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”---Jeremiah 45
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I think this is my favorite chapter in Jeremiah! The results are not up to us...they are up to God. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. Do not seek great things for yourself...just obey God. I am not in control....These are such good things for me to remember. My job is just to be obedient...whatever happens as a result is up to Him.
My hope is to be set fully in Christ and I am to expect nothing here on earth but opposition, trial and trouble. I am not to seek great things for me. I am to commit myself to my God in such a way that He is magnified. He must increase, I must decrease. To live should be Christ and to die gain. Baruch was looking for glory here and that is always fleeting, unsatisfying and leaves us wanting more.
Baruch worked as Jeremiah's scribe and was threatened for this by the king. (See Jeremiah 36) Baruch was hoping for great things to come to him because of his service to God He set his hope in the wrong place and was disappointed and grieved that things weren't working out according to his plan. He forgot that God was sovereign and works things toward His purposes and not ours. Setting your expectations high in this world only increases your frustration and make whatever trials that come more difficult to handle. Surrender it all to Him. God is the source of true contentment. If the Lord is our Shepherd, we have everything we need. Don't seek things for yourself...be content with what the Lord has given you. Serve Him knowing that your sufficiency comes from Him.
Humility of mind is what is needed to live like this. Imitate Christ who humbled and subjected Himself completely to the will of His Father in Heaven. That is how it is done. Lowliness of mind esteems the other as more important. Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires. Eyes off of ourselves and what we are doing for God or what we are not getting and onto Him and the privilege we have in serving Him.
Humility protects...lowliness of mind preserves. How? When I am humble, I am not self seeking...I am looking to live for Him and His glory. His perfect will then covers me. I am under his umbrella of protection so to speak. If I have done what my Lord has called me to do and fulfilled all His desires, than despite how it looks from an earthly perspective, I have led a successful life.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. (Psalm 127: 1-2)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Love
Mom
“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”---Jeremiah 45
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I think this is my favorite chapter in Jeremiah! The results are not up to us...they are up to God. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. Do not seek great things for yourself...just obey God. I am not in control....These are such good things for me to remember. My job is just to be obedient...whatever happens as a result is up to Him.
My hope is to be set fully in Christ and I am to expect nothing here on earth but opposition, trial and trouble. I am not to seek great things for me. I am to commit myself to my God in such a way that He is magnified. He must increase, I must decrease. To live should be Christ and to die gain. Baruch was looking for glory here and that is always fleeting, unsatisfying and leaves us wanting more.
Baruch worked as Jeremiah's scribe and was threatened for this by the king. (See Jeremiah 36) Baruch was hoping for great things to come to him because of his service to God He set his hope in the wrong place and was disappointed and grieved that things weren't working out according to his plan. He forgot that God was sovereign and works things toward His purposes and not ours. Setting your expectations high in this world only increases your frustration and make whatever trials that come more difficult to handle. Surrender it all to Him. God is the source of true contentment. If the Lord is our Shepherd, we have everything we need. Don't seek things for yourself...be content with what the Lord has given you. Serve Him knowing that your sufficiency comes from Him.
Humility of mind is what is needed to live like this. Imitate Christ who humbled and subjected Himself completely to the will of His Father in Heaven. That is how it is done. Lowliness of mind esteems the other as more important. Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires. Eyes off of ourselves and what we are doing for God or what we are not getting and onto Him and the privilege we have in serving Him.
Humility protects...lowliness of mind preserves. How? When I am humble, I am not self seeking...I am looking to live for Him and His glory. His perfect will then covers me. I am under his umbrella of protection so to speak. If I have done what my Lord has called me to do and fulfilled all His desires, than despite how it looks from an earthly perspective, I have led a successful life.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. (Psalm 127: 1-2)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Love
Mom
Inexcusable O Man, Whoever You Are Who Judge
Paul continues his message to the Roman believers by completely knocking down any delusions of self-sufficiency or self-righteousness. In Christ, there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free; we are all one in Christ Jes...us. There is no partiality with God (vs. 11) and He renders to each one according to his deeds (vs. 6). A frequent source of friction in the early church (and the source of much denunciation from non-believing Jews) was the active inclusion of Gentiles into the body of Christ. For a righteous Jew, Gentiles as a whole were unclean, depraved, and generally considered to be given over to the “debased mind” Paul described in the previous chapter. They would have been smirking their approval when Paul suddenly flipped the tables around with a stunning rebuke in the first verse of chapter two: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”
Jew and Gentile, Paul argued, are both equally guilty in the sight of the holy God. How could the Jews claim superior righteousness when they, who had the Law, had never perfectly kept it? Only one human has ever met God’s standard: Jesus Christ. So who were the real people of God and keepers of the law – the ones who bore the outward sign of circumcision and yet were inwardly unclean and depraved, or the ones who may or may not have borne the outward signs, yet whose hearts had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and who possessed the transforming Spirit of the Living God?
The Lord is not a respecter of persons. He could care less about your pedigree, your resume, your references, or your worldly assets and successes. He could care less about your excuses, self-justifications, or so-called righteousness. All those things make no difference to Him. Likewise, your failures, your sinful past, and your utter depravity are also irrelevant. There is only one choice that matters, one choice that can either condemn you or save you: your choice about Jesus. Accept Him personally as your Lord and Savior, and you are immutably His child forever; reject Him, and you will spend eternity suffering the consequences.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignatio
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, or what your heritage might be or what blood flows through your veins. You might be considered the most respectable person on planet Earth, but if you do not have Christ, you are still guilty. You might be the most monstrous criminal on planet Earth, but if you have Christ, He will present you spotless before His Father in heaven. It’s not about who we are or what we can do; it’s about who the Lord is and what He has done. Jesus paid my debt and has imputed His righteousness to my account. And His Spirit works in me, I’m changing. He gives me fruit. He’s put His law on my heart. He gives me the grace and the desire to do His will. Each day He conforms me more into the image of His Son, and I know, with absolute certainty, that none of the credit belongs to me. It’s all Him, His power, His Spirit, and His grace. And it’s all there for the asking. Give Him your heart, and He will do something with it that is exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think.
1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Jew and Gentile, Paul argued, are both equally guilty in the sight of the holy God. How could the Jews claim superior righteousness when they, who had the Law, had never perfectly kept it? Only one human has ever met God’s standard: Jesus Christ. So who were the real people of God and keepers of the law – the ones who bore the outward sign of circumcision and yet were inwardly unclean and depraved, or the ones who may or may not have borne the outward signs, yet whose hearts had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and who possessed the transforming Spirit of the Living God?
The Lord is not a respecter of persons. He could care less about your pedigree, your resume, your references, or your worldly assets and successes. He could care less about your excuses, self-justifications, or so-called righteousness. All those things make no difference to Him. Likewise, your failures, your sinful past, and your utter depravity are also irrelevant. There is only one choice that matters, one choice that can either condemn you or save you: your choice about Jesus. Accept Him personally as your Lord and Savior, and you are immutably His child forever; reject Him, and you will spend eternity suffering the consequences.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignatio
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, or what your heritage might be or what blood flows through your veins. You might be considered the most respectable person on planet Earth, but if you do not have Christ, you are still guilty. You might be the most monstrous criminal on planet Earth, but if you have Christ, He will present you spotless before His Father in heaven. It’s not about who we are or what we can do; it’s about who the Lord is and what He has done. Jesus paid my debt and has imputed His righteousness to my account. And His Spirit works in me, I’m changing. He gives me fruit. He’s put His law on my heart. He gives me the grace and the desire to do His will. Each day He conforms me more into the image of His Son, and I know, with absolute certainty, that none of the credit belongs to me. It’s all Him, His power, His Spirit, and His grace. And it’s all there for the asking. Give Him your heart, and He will do something with it that is exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think.
1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Thursday, January 27, 2011
God's Hand of Mercy Outstretched Still...
“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth--Jeremiah 44:16
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
That is quite a statement of self will. Here is another one from chapter 6.
Thus says the LORD: “ Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘ Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ (emphasis mine)
Jeremiah preached to the people of Judah for over 40 years. He spent all of those years speaking the Word of the Lord to them and was blatantly ignored. They saw his prophecies come true but it did not matter...they did what was right in their own eyes. They followed their own ways. Judgment came. Jeremiah spoke to the nation...God speaks to nations and judges nations, but He also speaks to each individual.
Throughout the Book of Jeremiah what has struck me the most is our Lord's faithfulness, long suffering and mercy toward His people. Judah had rejected the word of the Lord, worshiped idols and believed the false prophets. They had walked very far from from the "old paths" where they would find rest for their souls. And yet, God pleads with His beloved people relentlessly throughout the book to come back to Him. It is such a beautiful picture to me as a mom. God warns His children to the very end...He never gives up. He so does not want them to suffer and face judgment. He yearns for them jealously and wants them with Him. When judgment does come, however, the people had no one to blame but themselves. How grieving it is when our children do not hear and go the wrong way. How difficult it is to watch knowing that trouble is ahead for them.
So many of us follow wrong paths for years...doing what is right in our own eyes and ignoring all that God does to get our attention. We become established in our own path and very practiced with sin. I look back to my own 34 year path of destruction and am amazed that despite my depravity and sin, my God was there pulling at me gently with His cords of love. I see His hand protecting me and hedging me...not willing that I should perish. He wanted me for Himself. His hand of mercy and love was always extended and it was His goodness that led me to repentance. The Lord invites us to come to Him and be washed in His love and sheltered from the storms. He wants to lavish His love on us and bless us. He loves us so much and died for us when we were still His enemies. He wants all of us to come to life in His Son. Truly His faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
Chuck Smith says something about God's faithfulness. I will end with it.
"It is tough, really tough to go to hell. You will have to work at it. You will have to fight God every step of the way. He will put every kind of roadblock in your path. If you are tough and stubborn and stupid, you can make it. But, right up to the end, God is faithful. Oh the lovingkindness of God! the goodness of God! The faithfulness of God to us!"
Truly many of us are like foolish children who do not listen and when we arrive at our final destination we will be without excuse. This verse from Zephaniah I have claimed for my grandchildren...it is how I picture the lovingkindness of my God.
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”--Zephaniah 3:17
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
That is quite a statement of self will. Here is another one from chapter 6.
Thus says the LORD: “ Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘ Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ (emphasis mine)
Jeremiah preached to the people of Judah for over 40 years. He spent all of those years speaking the Word of the Lord to them and was blatantly ignored. They saw his prophecies come true but it did not matter...they did what was right in their own eyes. They followed their own ways. Judgment came. Jeremiah spoke to the nation...God speaks to nations and judges nations, but He also speaks to each individual.
Throughout the Book of Jeremiah what has struck me the most is our Lord's faithfulness, long suffering and mercy toward His people. Judah had rejected the word of the Lord, worshiped idols and believed the false prophets. They had walked very far from from the "old paths" where they would find rest for their souls. And yet, God pleads with His beloved people relentlessly throughout the book to come back to Him. It is such a beautiful picture to me as a mom. God warns His children to the very end...He never gives up. He so does not want them to suffer and face judgment. He yearns for them jealously and wants them with Him. When judgment does come, however, the people had no one to blame but themselves. How grieving it is when our children do not hear and go the wrong way. How difficult it is to watch knowing that trouble is ahead for them.
So many of us follow wrong paths for years...doing what is right in our own eyes and ignoring all that God does to get our attention. We become established in our own path and very practiced with sin. I look back to my own 34 year path of destruction and am amazed that despite my depravity and sin, my God was there pulling at me gently with His cords of love. I see His hand protecting me and hedging me...not willing that I should perish. He wanted me for Himself. His hand of mercy and love was always extended and it was His goodness that led me to repentance. The Lord invites us to come to Him and be washed in His love and sheltered from the storms. He wants to lavish His love on us and bless us. He loves us so much and died for us when we were still His enemies. He wants all of us to come to life in His Son. Truly His faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
Chuck Smith says something about God's faithfulness. I will end with it.
"It is tough, really tough to go to hell. You will have to work at it. You will have to fight God every step of the way. He will put every kind of roadblock in your path. If you are tough and stubborn and stupid, you can make it. But, right up to the end, God is faithful. Oh the lovingkindness of God! the goodness of God! The faithfulness of God to us!"
Truly many of us are like foolish children who do not listen and when we arrive at our final destination we will be without excuse. This verse from Zephaniah I have claimed for my grandchildren...it is how I picture the lovingkindness of my God.
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”--Zephaniah 3:17
Love
Mom
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
You Can't Run or Hide...
"So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they went as far as Tahpanhes. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, “Take large stones in your hand, and hide them in the sight of the men of Judah, in the clay in the brick courtyard which is at the entrance to Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes; and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden. And he will spread his royal pavilion over them. When he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword."---Jeremiah 43:7-11
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
People run from marriages, neighborhoods, churches, schools and social settings, because they think these are what is causing their unhappiness and discontented spirit. The people of Judah ran to Egypt despite Jeremiah's warnings to stay put and trust in God's love and care for them. Their impulse was to flee from the problem and in fleeing they thought they could outrun it. We have all done this...we change the backdrops of our lives in hopes that we will then find the peace we are seeking for our hearts. Some of us live our lives this way.
Running away from a problem or a situation does not work...in fact it usually causes more problems. The problem in your life is not the backdrops or the people God has placed on your particular stage. The problem is your heart. You bring yourself wherever you go. You can't run or hide because you can't run from who you are. What these people needed was a new heart. It didn't matter where they went. In fact the Lord told them clearly that by running to Egypt they would meet with the very same man they were fleeing. He would find them in Egypt. Many of us think if I just did this it would be better or if I moved here things would work out or if I had a different husband...the list is endless. The reality is, however, that things will only work out if God is at the center of your life and on the throne of your heart. You bring who you are with you where ever you run...
Love
Mom
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
People run from marriages, neighborhoods, churches, schools and social settings, because they think these are what is causing their unhappiness and discontented spirit. The people of Judah ran to Egypt despite Jeremiah's warnings to stay put and trust in God's love and care for them. Their impulse was to flee from the problem and in fleeing they thought they could outrun it. We have all done this...we change the backdrops of our lives in hopes that we will then find the peace we are seeking for our hearts. Some of us live our lives this way.
Running away from a problem or a situation does not work...in fact it usually causes more problems. The problem in your life is not the backdrops or the people God has placed on your particular stage. The problem is your heart. You bring yourself wherever you go. You can't run or hide because you can't run from who you are. What these people needed was a new heart. It didn't matter where they went. In fact the Lord told them clearly that by running to Egypt they would meet with the very same man they were fleeing. He would find them in Egypt. Many of us think if I just did this it would be better or if I moved here things would work out or if I had a different husband...the list is endless. The reality is, however, that things will only work out if God is at the center of your life and on the throne of your heart. You bring who you are with you where ever you run...
Love
Mom
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
God's Heart for Us
“The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’ And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, or anything which He has sent you by me. Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to dwell.”--Jeremiah 42:
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
All the people came to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to the Lord for them that the He would show them the way in which they should walk and the thing that they should do. Jeremiah said he would and the people promised to obey no matter what the Lord's answer was. After 10 days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and His answer to the people was that they were to stay put and not to flee to Egypt. If they stayed, God would deliver them and prosper them. If they fled to Egypt, they would meet with there, all that they feared in Judah. Disaster would come upon them. Now it seems from reading verse 20 that the people had already determined what they were going to do.
For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.
The word used in the King James for hypocrites in your hearts is "dissemble" and means to deceive. How foolish when people ask for God's guidance but have no intention of following it. Perhaps they want to try to get God on their side or maybe they want to look good by outwardly doing the right thing. All such profession is vain and hypocritical. Better not to pray at all.
God knows our hearts. The Bible tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. Our Lord discerns our empty words. He is not mocked. Our God will suffer long because that is who He is, but make no mistake: if you do not turn, judgment will come. No one escapes His hand. Much is said about the Lord's mercy, His longsuffering, and His kindness in the Bible, but as my pastor said last week, "Do not mistake the Lord's longsuffering for indifference." Judgment will come. Yes, He is merciful. Yes, He relents from doing harm when we repent and turn, but if we do not, the time of judgment does and will come.
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! --Deuteronomy 5:29
That is God's heart for us. He wants our hearts to be completely His. When this is the case, He knows it will be well with us forever. As a mom I can so understand those words. I want it to be well with my children forever. I want them to walk with their God in truth. I know that the best life they can live is one lived in the will of God. One lived for Him. There is no better or safer place. The language of the original is emphatic: "Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem", literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?
No truer words were ever spoken. A changed heart is a miracle from God. We must be willing to receive it. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing the fate it would suffer a short 70 years after His crucifixion. He wanted to gather His children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing!
Jeremiah's heart, like Jesus', was for it to be well with his countrymen. He too wept for the hardness of their hearts. He preached and spoke all the words of God for over 40 years to them. The people refused to hear. They did not want to obey. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should have life in His name. John 5:40 says this: "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." God gave the people of Judah opportunity after opportunity to obey Him. They heard but did not heed. Judgment came.
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."--Luke 8:18
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
All the people came to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to the Lord for them that the He would show them the way in which they should walk and the thing that they should do. Jeremiah said he would and the people promised to obey no matter what the Lord's answer was. After 10 days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and His answer to the people was that they were to stay put and not to flee to Egypt. If they stayed, God would deliver them and prosper them. If they fled to Egypt, they would meet with there, all that they feared in Judah. Disaster would come upon them. Now it seems from reading verse 20 that the people had already determined what they were going to do.
For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.
The word used in the King James for hypocrites in your hearts is "dissemble" and means to deceive. How foolish when people ask for God's guidance but have no intention of following it. Perhaps they want to try to get God on their side or maybe they want to look good by outwardly doing the right thing. All such profession is vain and hypocritical. Better not to pray at all.
God knows our hearts. The Bible tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. Our Lord discerns our empty words. He is not mocked. Our God will suffer long because that is who He is, but make no mistake: if you do not turn, judgment will come. No one escapes His hand. Much is said about the Lord's mercy, His longsuffering, and His kindness in the Bible, but as my pastor said last week, "Do not mistake the Lord's longsuffering for indifference." Judgment will come. Yes, He is merciful. Yes, He relents from doing harm when we repent and turn, but if we do not, the time of judgment does and will come.
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! --Deuteronomy 5:29
That is God's heart for us. He wants our hearts to be completely His. When this is the case, He knows it will be well with us forever. As a mom I can so understand those words. I want it to be well with my children forever. I want them to walk with their God in truth. I know that the best life they can live is one lived in the will of God. One lived for Him. There is no better or safer place. The language of the original is emphatic: "Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem", literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?
No truer words were ever spoken. A changed heart is a miracle from God. We must be willing to receive it. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing the fate it would suffer a short 70 years after His crucifixion. He wanted to gather His children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing!
Jeremiah's heart, like Jesus', was for it to be well with his countrymen. He too wept for the hardness of their hearts. He preached and spoke all the words of God for over 40 years to them. The people refused to hear. They did not want to obey. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should have life in His name. John 5:40 says this: "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." God gave the people of Judah opportunity after opportunity to obey Him. They heard but did not heed. Judgment came.
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."--Luke 8:18
Love
Mom
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
C. S. Lewis on the Giving of Yourself to God
"Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart."
—C. S Lewis Mere Christianity
Monday, January 24, 2011
Submission to Government
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.--1 Peter 2:13-17
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The previous two verses of 1 Peter chapter 2 speak of living before the world in a way in which unbelievers will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This next section (through vs 25) addresses a believer's submission to government, to masters and wives to husbands. Further on in Chapter 5, Peter addresses a younger believer's submission to elders. He gives specific instructions to each one but the bottom line is if we are submitting to our Lord Jesus Christ and serving Him in love, we are fulfilling the law and will as much as depends on us put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. The best answer to persecution and accusation of wrong doing from unbelievers is to live a life blameless before them....to be not of the world but to be a good citizen who is above reproach submitting to our government as unto the Lord. We are to do this "for the Lord's sake"—so that His gospel and His people will be respected. If we are to be persecuted, it should be for obeying God, not for breaking moral or civil laws. (Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:21)
The verse that spoke to my heart was this one:
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God."
Whenever, I see "for this is the will of God" I sit up and pay attention. My behavior should be above reproach for my Lord's sake. It is about Him. The bottom line of this life for each and every one of us is what we do with Jesus. Do we believe and accept His free gift to us or do we reject it. Jesus came so that we might have life in His name. Whatever else we might think is important is not in light of Jesus. We need to become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation so that we can shine His light to a lost and dying world.
A transformed life dedicated to Him is a supreme witness in this world. We are His hands, feet and mouth here and are to share His good news with as many as we can. Our lights become dim, however, when our own fleshly desires get in the way. That is why we are not to use our liberty in Christ as a cloak for vice but as bond servants of God. Galatians 5:13 says this:
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
The key to that verse is but through love serve one another. The kind of love that links us to Jesus is the love that sacrifices. The love that does not seek its own. The love that puts the other first. Jesus when He walked on this earth did nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. He esteemed us as the joy that was set before Him and endured the suffering, humiliation and death of the cross so that we could have the opportunity to believe and be delivered into His kingdom of Light. He was despised and rejected by men...He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Jesus came not to seek His own will but the will of Him who sent Him....His Father in Heaven. We are to imitate Jesus who submitted to His Father in heaven in everything and in humility served us and made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Serve one another in love...love fulfills the law.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The previous two verses of 1 Peter chapter 2 speak of living before the world in a way in which unbelievers will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This next section (through vs 25) addresses a believer's submission to government, to masters and wives to husbands. Further on in Chapter 5, Peter addresses a younger believer's submission to elders. He gives specific instructions to each one but the bottom line is if we are submitting to our Lord Jesus Christ and serving Him in love, we are fulfilling the law and will as much as depends on us put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. The best answer to persecution and accusation of wrong doing from unbelievers is to live a life blameless before them....to be not of the world but to be a good citizen who is above reproach submitting to our government as unto the Lord. We are to do this "for the Lord's sake"—so that His gospel and His people will be respected. If we are to be persecuted, it should be for obeying God, not for breaking moral or civil laws. (Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 22:21)
The verse that spoke to my heart was this one:
"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God."
Whenever, I see "for this is the will of God" I sit up and pay attention. My behavior should be above reproach for my Lord's sake. It is about Him. The bottom line of this life for each and every one of us is what we do with Jesus. Do we believe and accept His free gift to us or do we reject it. Jesus came so that we might have life in His name. Whatever else we might think is important is not in light of Jesus. We need to become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation so that we can shine His light to a lost and dying world.
A transformed life dedicated to Him is a supreme witness in this world. We are His hands, feet and mouth here and are to share His good news with as many as we can. Our lights become dim, however, when our own fleshly desires get in the way. That is why we are not to use our liberty in Christ as a cloak for vice but as bond servants of God. Galatians 5:13 says this:
"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
The key to that verse is but through love serve one another. The kind of love that links us to Jesus is the love that sacrifices. The love that does not seek its own. The love that puts the other first. Jesus when He walked on this earth did nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. He esteemed us as the joy that was set before Him and endured the suffering, humiliation and death of the cross so that we could have the opportunity to believe and be delivered into His kingdom of Light. He was despised and rejected by men...He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Jesus came not to seek His own will but the will of Him who sent Him....His Father in Heaven. We are to imitate Jesus who submitted to His Father in heaven in everything and in humility served us and made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Serve one another in love...love fulfills the law.
Love
Mom
Shining as Lights
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.--1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Peter is addressing here his brethren, his beloved, and he is beseeching them to remember that as believers they are not residents of this world. They are instead, strangers and pilgrims Our real home, their real home and our true citizenship, is in heaven with our God. Revelation 21:3 reminds us of this:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
We are not citizens of the world and should not look or act as if we are of the world. Our words and deeds should reflect our citizenship. Our true loyalty should be to our King in heaven. Our lives should be patterned after our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. We are to abstain...literally hold ourselves back from or away from fleshly lusts which war against our spirit. (See Romans 7:23, James 4:1, Gal 5:19-21)
The people of this world, girls, watch us carefully. They look for excuses to reject God, His Word, and the gospel. We are foreigners on this earth, called to a righteous life in a world that is oftentimes against us. In order to have an impact for Him on those around us, we must follow the example of our Lord Jesus, who lived a perfect life in the midst of this hostile world. Peter tells us our conduct should be honorable (lovely, excellent, noble, and gracious) among the Gentiles or unbelievers.
Our testimony...good or bad will influence others one way or the other. I so want to influence those whom I love and those whom the Lord has placed in my path for Him. I want them to remember my testimony for good when God's grace visits their heart one day. I want them to accept His offer of salvation and give them no reason not to. Our Lord desires that none should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. His desire should be my desire and I should live my life before men in a way that glorifies who He is and what He has done.
Let Him do that work in us so that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:15-16
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Peter is addressing here his brethren, his beloved, and he is beseeching them to remember that as believers they are not residents of this world. They are instead, strangers and pilgrims Our real home, their real home and our true citizenship, is in heaven with our God. Revelation 21:3 reminds us of this:
"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
We are not citizens of the world and should not look or act as if we are of the world. Our words and deeds should reflect our citizenship. Our true loyalty should be to our King in heaven. Our lives should be patterned after our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. We are to abstain...literally hold ourselves back from or away from fleshly lusts which war against our spirit. (See Romans 7:23, James 4:1, Gal 5:19-21)
The people of this world, girls, watch us carefully. They look for excuses to reject God, His Word, and the gospel. We are foreigners on this earth, called to a righteous life in a world that is oftentimes against us. In order to have an impact for Him on those around us, we must follow the example of our Lord Jesus, who lived a perfect life in the midst of this hostile world. Peter tells us our conduct should be honorable (lovely, excellent, noble, and gracious) among the Gentiles or unbelievers.
Our testimony...good or bad will influence others one way or the other. I so want to influence those whom I love and those whom the Lord has placed in my path for Him. I want them to remember my testimony for good when God's grace visits their heart one day. I want them to accept His offer of salvation and give them no reason not to. Our Lord desires that none should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. His desire should be my desire and I should live my life before men in a way that glorifies who He is and what He has done.
Let Him do that work in us so that we may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:15-16
Love
Mom
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Zeal, Ferverency, and Servitude...
Rom 12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The key to this triplet is at the end of the verse. Who are we serving. The Lord. We are to be influenced by His Spirit to do the works that our God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. That is why we are not to lag in diligence and be fervent in spirit. Whatever we do, we are to do it with all our might in honor of whom we are serving. Doing it all unto God and not to man. Serving Him in love as His bond servant.
Ephesians 6:5-8 says:
Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
When you serve Christ you are going to be opposed. Some days will be more difficult than others. Some years harder than others. Don't grow weary in doing good. Look ahead, see the prize.
"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. "
Passing pleasure of sin now...judgment later or the reproach of Christ now and eternal life later...Moses chose well.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The key to this triplet is at the end of the verse. Who are we serving. The Lord. We are to be influenced by His Spirit to do the works that our God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. That is why we are not to lag in diligence and be fervent in spirit. Whatever we do, we are to do it with all our might in honor of whom we are serving. Doing it all unto God and not to man. Serving Him in love as His bond servant.
Ephesians 6:5-8 says:
Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
When you serve Christ you are going to be opposed. Some days will be more difficult than others. Some years harder than others. Don't grow weary in doing good. Look ahead, see the prize.
"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. "
Passing pleasure of sin now...judgment later or the reproach of Christ now and eternal life later...Moses chose well.
Love
Mom
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Offense of Offenses
Many of us live our lives offended. We are offended by friends. We are offended by relatives. We are offended by even our mom or our dad. Why? The reasons are as many as the offenses and none of them can stand in the light of what Christ did for us when we were still at war with Him. None of them. He took all our sin, grief and sorrow upon Himself and suffered and died for our sin...He took the penalty...so that we could live with Him forever. Many of us are even offended at that. They tread on the Son of God, so to speak who through His death on the cross reached out to them in love.
I am convinced being offended is almost like a bad habit that some of us get in to. Maybe we just do it without much thought and think we are justified. If you think this way then you are blinded by the darkness that is in side. Stop it! Purpose in your heart to turn toward the Light that came into this world to shine in the very darkness you find yourself inside. This life is not about you. It is about Him...it is His story. For you to get in the way with your own offenses is wrong. There are people dying without Christ and we are not looking to shine His light we are looking justify ourselves. Christ is the just and the justifier. Commit yourself to Him. who judges righteously. Let Him fight your battles for you.....You hold your peace. Vengeance is Mine, the Lord tells us, I will repay.
The Bible is clear...as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men. It says in Hebrews 12:14 to pursue peace with all people. We certainly will not be able to reach that goal but we should pursue it just the same. Romans 12:18 says "If it is possible, as much depends on you, live peaceably with all men." There are going to be those who will refuse to live in peace with you. BUT make sure that you have done everything you can to reconcile...do not let it be your own stubbornness and pride that keeps the relationship from bearing fruit for Him. Hebrews 12:14 continues like this:
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."
This life that you are living is about Him...not you. Follow Him who:
“ Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
I am convinced being offended is almost like a bad habit that some of us get in to. Maybe we just do it without much thought and think we are justified. If you think this way then you are blinded by the darkness that is in side. Stop it! Purpose in your heart to turn toward the Light that came into this world to shine in the very darkness you find yourself inside. This life is not about you. It is about Him...it is His story. For you to get in the way with your own offenses is wrong. There are people dying without Christ and we are not looking to shine His light we are looking justify ourselves. Christ is the just and the justifier. Commit yourself to Him. who judges righteously. Let Him fight your battles for you.....You hold your peace. Vengeance is Mine, the Lord tells us, I will repay.
The Bible is clear...as much as depends on you live peaceably with all men. It says in Hebrews 12:14 to pursue peace with all people. We certainly will not be able to reach that goal but we should pursue it just the same. Romans 12:18 says "If it is possible, as much depends on you, live peaceably with all men." There are going to be those who will refuse to live in peace with you. BUT make sure that you have done everything you can to reconcile...do not let it be your own stubbornness and pride that keeps the relationship from bearing fruit for Him. Hebrews 12:14 continues like this:
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."
This life that you are living is about Him...not you. Follow Him who:
“ Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Humility Trumps!
Psalm 101:2 I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
HA! If only this were true! If only, I walked within my house with a perfect heart. How wonderful that would be not only for me but for my family. I want my house to be a place where my family can relax, let their guard down and escape from the trials and temptations of the world. I want my family to want to come home and be around me. I want to give them a soft place to fall. I want my delight in the Lord obvious to them. These are all good desires.
None of these desires, however, will come to fruition overnight but if your delight is truly in the Lord and in pleasing Him, His desires for you will become your desires. Immerse yourself daily in His word. Allow it to take root in your heart through study and meditation...The word is the only thing that is necessary...it is the only thing that is needed. I am going to say that again...The word is the only thing that is necessary. It is the only thing that is needed. Little by little you will begin to see fruit. You will begin to surrender to the Spirit of God inside and you will be transformed.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. --2nd Corinthians 3:18
Yes it can be painful to draw near to God and see ourselves with all our dents, bruises and scrapes. Guess what..God already knows everything about us..He is never surprised. Our family is familiar with our shortcomings. We are only deceiving ourselves when we refuse to draw near and repent. Pride keeps us from getting right with God at times and being who we need to be for our families. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. Humility trumps!
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
HA! If only this were true! If only, I walked within my house with a perfect heart. How wonderful that would be not only for me but for my family. I want my house to be a place where my family can relax, let their guard down and escape from the trials and temptations of the world. I want my family to want to come home and be around me. I want to give them a soft place to fall. I want my delight in the Lord obvious to them. These are all good desires.
None of these desires, however, will come to fruition overnight but if your delight is truly in the Lord and in pleasing Him, His desires for you will become your desires. Immerse yourself daily in His word. Allow it to take root in your heart through study and meditation...The word is the only thing that is necessary...it is the only thing that is needed. I am going to say that again...The word is the only thing that is necessary. It is the only thing that is needed. Little by little you will begin to see fruit. You will begin to surrender to the Spirit of God inside and you will be transformed.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. --2nd Corinthians 3:18
Yes it can be painful to draw near to God and see ourselves with all our dents, bruises and scrapes. Guess what..God already knows everything about us..He is never surprised. Our family is familiar with our shortcomings. We are only deceiving ourselves when we refuse to draw near and repent. Pride keeps us from getting right with God at times and being who we need to be for our families. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. Humility trumps!
Love
Mom
His Grace is Sufficient
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This one has been speaking to my heart lately as I see such sadness and grief all around me. So grateful for the Lord in my life and that His grace is made perfect in my weakness. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to buffet him and protect him from getting puffed up. He pleaded with God three times to remove it and God said no...what God did do, however, was give him the grace to endure it.
Paul went on to say that he had learned that when he was weak, Christ was strong. How gracious is our God. He knows our frames. He knows we are dust. How discouraging it would be to only be used by Him or only to feel His power when I was strong and on top of my game. How much effort it would take for me to stay there. I thank my God that He does not want my efforts. He wants my surrender. He wants us me to acknowledge my weakness so His power can rest upon me.
God strength is made perfect in our weakness. Just when we need it the most, His strength fills us. Our bodies on the outside might be deteriorating and perishing, but our inward man is being renewed every day and infused with His power. What a wonderful glorious gift...what amazing consolation we have in Him.
I had never truly experienced his power and strength until I experienced my own weakness. When I am feeling weak physically or weak emotionally, I think back to the day of my salvation. I think of my own weakness and helplessness and in my heart I fall down and worship Him...thanking Him for the weakness that caused me to cry out and be delivered from the darkness into His marvelous light. Our weakness does the same thing today as we walk with Him. My limitations give me courage and hope...They enables me to rest my hope fully in Him and depend on Him instead of me. Delight yourself in Him...He will give you the desires of your heart. Revel and rest in His goodness and mercy. Remember that the battle is not yours. He fights for you.
2 Chronicles 20:15 " ...Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."
Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace"
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This one has been speaking to my heart lately as I see such sadness and grief all around me. So grateful for the Lord in my life and that His grace is made perfect in my weakness. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to buffet him and protect him from getting puffed up. He pleaded with God three times to remove it and God said no...what God did do, however, was give him the grace to endure it.
Paul went on to say that he had learned that when he was weak, Christ was strong. How gracious is our God. He knows our frames. He knows we are dust. How discouraging it would be to only be used by Him or only to feel His power when I was strong and on top of my game. How much effort it would take for me to stay there. I thank my God that He does not want my efforts. He wants my surrender. He wants us me to acknowledge my weakness so His power can rest upon me.
God strength is made perfect in our weakness. Just when we need it the most, His strength fills us. Our bodies on the outside might be deteriorating and perishing, but our inward man is being renewed every day and infused with His power. What a wonderful glorious gift...what amazing consolation we have in Him.
I had never truly experienced his power and strength until I experienced my own weakness. When I am feeling weak physically or weak emotionally, I think back to the day of my salvation. I think of my own weakness and helplessness and in my heart I fall down and worship Him...thanking Him for the weakness that caused me to cry out and be delivered from the darkness into His marvelous light. Our weakness does the same thing today as we walk with Him. My limitations give me courage and hope...They enables me to rest my hope fully in Him and depend on Him instead of me. Delight yourself in Him...He will give you the desires of your heart. Revel and rest in His goodness and mercy. Remember that the battle is not yours. He fights for you.
2 Chronicles 20:15 " ...Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."
Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace"
Love
Mom
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Hating Your Brother and Loving God....Oxymoron
Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.--1 John 2:7-11
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
A Christian who is walking in the light (obeying God) is going to love his brother. Love is the supreme commandment. Colossians 3 says that love is the bond of perfection. 1 Corinthians 13 says if we do not have love we are nothing. Love is the key. If we miss that everything else is a waste of time and effort. 1 John 4:8 says he who does not love does not know God for God is love. Romans 13 tells us to owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Paul in Romans 13 is commenting on the second part of the law...the commandments regarding our behavior toward people. We fulfill the law in relationship to others if we love our neighbors as ourselves...Paul even gives us an easy definition of love to remember. "Love does no harm to a neighbor." Matthew 22:37-40 says love God and love your neighbor.
There is more...this could go on pretty endlessly. The commandment to love is all over the Bible. Jesus raises the bar even further. Read Matthew 5:21-32. Jesus took some of the commandments specifically and expounded on them. Speaking of the commandment not tu murder Jesus says "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca! shall be in danger of the council But whoever says, "You fool! shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
John is saying here in 1 John 2 that Jesus is introducing an old commandment but giving it a new twist so to speak. In John 13:34 Jesus gives us a new commandment "that you love one another; as I have loved you. Uh oh...that is pretty convicting. Jesus did not love with the kind of love most of us love others with. He loved with self sacrificing love. In fact He gave His life for each one of us and when we believe we become His brother or sister in Christ. This is what John meant in verse 8 about a new commandment...the old commandment which was from the beginning with a new twist. The old commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. (Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18) The new commandment says in addition to that we are to love each other as He has loved us. This was impossible before Jesus came. Jesus is the new standard of love...the self-sacrificing kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 and displayed on the cross at Calvary.
Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him. Jesus is the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world. We walk in darkness unless Christ the light of life lives inside us. Jesus fulfilled the commandment...it is true in Him.
John 1:9-13 says "that was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own,and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
His light gives light to every man coming into the world When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and His Spirit indwells us the darkness passes away and the true light shines in our hearts. When we are in the light John says there is no cause for stumbling. There is no cause in us that make us stumble because His light is a lamp to our feet. There is also no chance of us making another stumble because our word and deed match. We are not acting hypocritically.Our profession and our practice match.
1 John 4:12 says "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." God is manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." We can only love this way if the love of God has been shed abroad in our heart by the Spirit of God who dwells in us upon our belief in His Son. His love is then perfected in us through Him...through our surrender and obedience to the Spirit of God inside. It is only then that we can love those that the Lord has placed in our lives with His love. He changes our hearts. If you love God, you will love your brother.
Love
Mom
1 John 3:14 says We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
1 John 4:20-21 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
A Christian who is walking in the light (obeying God) is going to love his brother. Love is the supreme commandment. Colossians 3 says that love is the bond of perfection. 1 Corinthians 13 says if we do not have love we are nothing. Love is the key. If we miss that everything else is a waste of time and effort. 1 John 4:8 says he who does not love does not know God for God is love. Romans 13 tells us to owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Paul in Romans 13 is commenting on the second part of the law...the commandments regarding our behavior toward people. We fulfill the law in relationship to others if we love our neighbors as ourselves...Paul even gives us an easy definition of love to remember. "Love does no harm to a neighbor." Matthew 22:37-40 says love God and love your neighbor.
There is more...this could go on pretty endlessly. The commandment to love is all over the Bible. Jesus raises the bar even further. Read Matthew 5:21-32. Jesus took some of the commandments specifically and expounded on them. Speaking of the commandment not tu murder Jesus says "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca! shall be in danger of the council But whoever says, "You fool! shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
John is saying here in 1 John 2 that Jesus is introducing an old commandment but giving it a new twist so to speak. In John 13:34 Jesus gives us a new commandment "that you love one another; as I have loved you. Uh oh...that is pretty convicting. Jesus did not love with the kind of love most of us love others with. He loved with self sacrificing love. In fact He gave His life for each one of us and when we believe we become His brother or sister in Christ. This is what John meant in verse 8 about a new commandment...the old commandment which was from the beginning with a new twist. The old commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. (Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18) The new commandment says in addition to that we are to love each other as He has loved us. This was impossible before Jesus came. Jesus is the new standard of love...the self-sacrificing kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13 and displayed on the cross at Calvary.
Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him. Jesus is the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world. We walk in darkness unless Christ the light of life lives inside us. Jesus fulfilled the commandment...it is true in Him.
John 1:9-13 says "that was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own,and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
His light gives light to every man coming into the world When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and His Spirit indwells us the darkness passes away and the true light shines in our hearts. When we are in the light John says there is no cause for stumbling. There is no cause in us that make us stumble because His light is a lamp to our feet. There is also no chance of us making another stumble because our word and deed match. We are not acting hypocritically.Our profession and our practice match.
1 John 4:12 says "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." God is manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." We can only love this way if the love of God has been shed abroad in our heart by the Spirit of God who dwells in us upon our belief in His Son. His love is then perfected in us through Him...through our surrender and obedience to the Spirit of God inside. It is only then that we can love those that the Lord has placed in our lives with His love. He changes our hearts. If you love God, you will love your brother.
Love
Mom
1 John 3:14 says We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
1 John 4:20-21 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Best Purchase of my Life...
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”--Job 42:5-6
These verses spoke to my heart this morning and reminded me of how I used to feel about God. I had heard about Him. I had heard people talk about Him. I thought that there probably was a God and I had at times thought I should act on my feeling that there was a God. When I felt desperate once in a while I would pray. I really did not know how to go about getting God so to speak and I did not have the motivation or the will to really do it. There always seemed to be a wall that I couldn't or did not want to get past.
But God who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved me, broke down that wall which was my pride and brought me to a point where it truly became the motivation of my heart. I still did not know how to do this God thing so I went out to a Barnes and Noble and bought a Life Application Bible. It was a good move...the best I have ever made in my life. The guy who waited on me saw that I was uncomfortable even holding a bible in public and talked to me about how He loved God's word...He told me to read it and that when he didn't read it he was not the same. I remember feeling like he was treating me as he would a sister. I don't remember his words so much as I remember his courage. Very few in my life up until then had stood for anything. It was clear he stood for God and was not afraid to talk to me about it in front of his co-workers nor did he care that the people in line behind me might hear.
There is such a big difference between knowing about God and really understanding who He is and "seeing" Him. Hearing and believing that there was a God did not change my lifestyle. I still lived as if God did not exist. I never gave God any time. I did what I wanted to do. I did not seek His help until the Lord brought me to the end of me and I knew I was out of answers. Raised on books, I went to the Bible.
I had read the bible a little bit before and the words had bounced off of me not reaching their mark, because I really did not want them to reach my heart and take root and grow. This time my heart opened and I understood and really saw the Lord and at the same time saw who I was and had become. It was then that I, like Job said, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. At that moment, I submitted myself to Him and became like a child. A supernatural metamorphosis occurred in my heart. I know I had done nothing to effect the change...it was clearly God. I carried His word with me everywhere. I sought Him in everything and read His word whenever time would allow. As I did my life changed and reflected more of Him and less of me.
If you know of God, but don't have an intimate relationship with Him...don't wait. Now is the time of salvation. Ask Him now to show you who He is. I look back and see the ugliness of what my life was...and see the beauty the Lord has wrought from those ashes and I stand in awe...amazed...I have been totally changed by His presence in my life.
These verses spoke to my heart this morning and reminded me of how I used to feel about God. I had heard about Him. I had heard people talk about Him. I thought that there probably was a God and I had at times thought I should act on my feeling that there was a God. When I felt desperate once in a while I would pray. I really did not know how to go about getting God so to speak and I did not have the motivation or the will to really do it. There always seemed to be a wall that I couldn't or did not want to get past.
But God who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved me, broke down that wall which was my pride and brought me to a point where it truly became the motivation of my heart. I still did not know how to do this God thing so I went out to a Barnes and Noble and bought a Life Application Bible. It was a good move...the best I have ever made in my life. The guy who waited on me saw that I was uncomfortable even holding a bible in public and talked to me about how He loved God's word...He told me to read it and that when he didn't read it he was not the same. I remember feeling like he was treating me as he would a sister. I don't remember his words so much as I remember his courage. Very few in my life up until then had stood for anything. It was clear he stood for God and was not afraid to talk to me about it in front of his co-workers nor did he care that the people in line behind me might hear.
There is such a big difference between knowing about God and really understanding who He is and "seeing" Him. Hearing and believing that there was a God did not change my lifestyle. I still lived as if God did not exist. I never gave God any time. I did what I wanted to do. I did not seek His help until the Lord brought me to the end of me and I knew I was out of answers. Raised on books, I went to the Bible.
I had read the bible a little bit before and the words had bounced off of me not reaching their mark, because I really did not want them to reach my heart and take root and grow. This time my heart opened and I understood and really saw the Lord and at the same time saw who I was and had become. It was then that I, like Job said, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. At that moment, I submitted myself to Him and became like a child. A supernatural metamorphosis occurred in my heart. I know I had done nothing to effect the change...it was clearly God. I carried His word with me everywhere. I sought Him in everything and read His word whenever time would allow. As I did my life changed and reflected more of Him and less of me.
If you know of God, but don't have an intimate relationship with Him...don't wait. Now is the time of salvation. Ask Him now to show you who He is. I look back and see the ugliness of what my life was...and see the beauty the Lord has wrought from those ashes and I stand in awe...amazed...I have been totally changed by His presence in my life.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
His Special Treasure...
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“ The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“ A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.--1 Peter 2:4-10
To My Daughters...
Christ is so central in these verses. He is that living stone with the power of an endless life. He is rejected by men who have no room for Him in their lives...no room for their Creator and their Redeemer and their friend. God chose Him though...He is precious...whether man chooses to think so or not.
When I believed, I became a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious. He is building me a spiritual house, a royal priesthood...I am a royal priestess and am to offer up spiritual sacrifices to Him which are acceptable through my belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.
All the special privileges that the Jewish nation once knew as the chosen instrument of God are mine. I am His special treasure now.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
I (ME!) am His special treasure. What a beautiful thought...what a beautiful reality for a believer. I stand in His righteousness....unashamed. I look to Him and I am radiant. His love is shed abroad in my heart. As a believer, I have His mind and can see with His spiritual eyes. Because He died, I can live forever with Him.
With such great privileges, however, come great responsibility. He called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light. I am His daughter and have obtained His mercy and grace in abundance. The Jews once had this privilege, but did not live up to the responsibility. They did not bring forth the fruit the Father desired. We, the church, have this responsibility now. We are His special people and are to proclaim His promises to all.
Is God through with the Jews? Definitely not! They are still His chosen people. Read on..here comes more of God's grace and His unsearchable ways. The Jewish rejection of their Messiah meant the Gentiles salvation. Romans 11:11 says this: "I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles." So today the saved Gentiles provoke Israel “to jealousy” because of the spiritual riches they have in Christ. Read Romans 10: 19-21 and see God's grace to the entire world.
"But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
He is faithful to keep His word and to accomplish its purpose both in Israel and the whole world. In fact, in Israel's rejection, He kept His word to the Gentiles and will use the Gentiles to keep His word to Israel. Truly we serve an amazing God!! Proclaim His praises!!! Speak of His excellencies!
Love
Mom
Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“ The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“ A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.--1 Peter 2:4-10
To My Daughters...
Christ is so central in these verses. He is that living stone with the power of an endless life. He is rejected by men who have no room for Him in their lives...no room for their Creator and their Redeemer and their friend. God chose Him though...He is precious...whether man chooses to think so or not.
When I believed, I became a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious. He is building me a spiritual house, a royal priesthood...I am a royal priestess and am to offer up spiritual sacrifices to Him which are acceptable through my belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.
All the special privileges that the Jewish nation once knew as the chosen instrument of God are mine. I am His special treasure now.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
I (ME!) am His special treasure. What a beautiful thought...what a beautiful reality for a believer. I stand in His righteousness....unashamed. I look to Him and I am radiant. His love is shed abroad in my heart. As a believer, I have His mind and can see with His spiritual eyes. Because He died, I can live forever with Him.
With such great privileges, however, come great responsibility. He called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light. I am His daughter and have obtained His mercy and grace in abundance. The Jews once had this privilege, but did not live up to the responsibility. They did not bring forth the fruit the Father desired. We, the church, have this responsibility now. We are His special people and are to proclaim His promises to all.
Is God through with the Jews? Definitely not! They are still His chosen people. Read on..here comes more of God's grace and His unsearchable ways. The Jewish rejection of their Messiah meant the Gentiles salvation. Romans 11:11 says this: "I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles." So today the saved Gentiles provoke Israel “to jealousy” because of the spiritual riches they have in Christ. Read Romans 10: 19-21 and see God's grace to the entire world.
"But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
“ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”
He is faithful to keep His word and to accomplish its purpose both in Israel and the whole world. In fact, in Israel's rejection, He kept His word to the Gentiles and will use the Gentiles to keep His word to Israel. Truly we serve an amazing God!! Proclaim His praises!!! Speak of His excellencies!
Love
Mom
Monday, January 17, 2011
When God Hides His Face...
Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.--Psalm 30:6-7
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
These verses spoke to my heart this morning. When things are going well it is easy for us to say Lord I will trust you in everything. I will not be moved or like David...you have made my mountain stand strong. We feel God's presence and His right hand upholding us. We grow secure and forget that life can change in a moment. When things are going well, we want to think that they always will...that nothing will change.
The proverbial rug is pulled out from under David in verse 7 and His mountain is "shaken". David faces a difficult time and feels that God is hiding from him. We all feel like David did sometimes...that God has abandoned us or has hidden his face from us. He does not seem to be answering our prayers, we do not feel His presence...and this is what always gets me...He just isn't giving us (me) what we (I) want. Notice, however, what David does. He beseeches the Lord and prays harder. He cries out, "Lord be my Helper." David does not walk away but hangs on to His God tighter and demands to be heard. He cries out in faith to God and His grace is there.
The proverbial rug is pulled out from under David in verse 7 and His mountain is "shaken". David faces a difficult time and feels that God is hiding from him. We all feel like David did sometimes...that God has abandoned us or has hidden his face from us. He does not seem to be answering our prayers, we do not feel His presence...and this is what always gets me...He just isn't giving us (me) what we (I) want. Notice, however, what David does. He beseeches the Lord and prays harder. He cries out, "Lord be my Helper." David does not walk away but hangs on to His God tighter and demands to be heard. He cries out in faith to God and His grace is there.
Times like these in my life when I have felt pressed into a corner with no where to go and barely room to breathe are the very times my faith has been enlarged. They are the very times in retrospect I would not change for what I thought I wanted at the time. The storms and trials of this life have at times engulfed me, blinded me and paralyzed me. The only option left to me was to cry out to Him in faith and hold on to my God and keep holding on. It is during those times that I learned that I could not do anything...that I was weak...He alone was strong. It is during those times that I remember the many many times He has delivered me in the past. I remember that I am His beloved and all He does and all He allows are for my good and His glory. It is during those times that I learn to truly commit myself to Him and say Lord it is in Your hands. You take care of it. Whatever happens, my trust is in You.
Love
Mom
Psalm 30
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.
1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
6 Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD;
And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
6 Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD;
And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Being Kindly Affectionate and Preferring One Another
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; --Romans 12:10
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We are in Romans 12, verse 10. This section of Scripture, as I have said before, is one of the most practical in the Bible. It is very simple and very easy to understand. Not much I can do as far as exposition is concerned that Paul has not done. He has made his point very clear. As I read Romans 12:9-21, (see below) however, my eyes always seem to fill with tears. I don't know about you but the world that I live in and most of the people I know are not this way. Believers have the desire to live this way but their execution like mine is far from perfect. None of us, sadly, will get it right until we meet Him face to face....until we awaken in His image. I so want to be this way to those around me, though. Paul says this in Philippians and truly it is the heart attitude that we need in this life to live for Christ.
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Romans 12:9-21call us to a supernatural type of living that can only be done by the Spirit of God living inside us. Outside of Christ this type of living is impossible. Do you remember the "therefore" at the beginning of this chapter and what it meant? Because of all that was written in the previous 11 chapters...because of what He has done and the promises we have in Him, we are to respond by presenting ourselves to God as living sacrifices. We are to put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. We are to look and act differently from the rest of the world. Our conduct should be worthy of the Gospel of God.
We already looked at loving genuinely, hating evil and gluing oneself to what is good. Verse 10 tells us to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. John MacArthur says that the words kindly affectionate in the Greek is made up of two words meaning love. So it could say be lovingly loving. Here is the meaning in the Strong's: cherishing one’s kindred, especially parents or children); fond of natural relatives, that is, fraternal towards fellow Christians: - kindly affectioned.
I think on it this way...we are to cherish and treat those around us as gently and kindly as a Mom treats a nursing infant. Do you see how unnatural that would be in our flesh. I know how I felt about each one of my nursing infants...I do not feel that way naturally for those that God puts in my path...if I manifest that kind of love at all it is the Spirit of God inside me...not me. It is also the love I feel toward other like-minded believers. I could be in a room with a group of strangers, but if they are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ it does not take long at all to develop common ground and a unique sense of unity and love with them because of our fellowship in Him. It is definitely supernatural...I have never encountered its likeness in the world. Matthew 18 says this:
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."
If you receive another believer, you are receiving the Lord Himself. I have seen the kindness and love that Christ Jesus has for us manifested in my church family over and over again. It has been demonstrated to my own family many times. They have lovingly loved us. It is one of the precious benefits of being a child of God. Beautiful, like minded fellowship with other believers.
Paul goes on to say with brotherly love. John MacArthur says that the verse could read then like this. "Be lovingly loving with one another with loving love." I really don't think we have much space in that sentence for argument or loophole.
1 John 5 says this: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." Pretty simple...a believer will love God and love those who belong to Him. We are to be tender-hearted toward one another and forgiving. We are to love one another in truth and sometimes we have to say some hard things in loving them truthfully. Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 4.
"I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
Loving parents not only love their children fervently but warn, exhort, encourage, speak the truth, and make sure they keep the right company. A loving parent sets an example that a child can imitate...and there should be no disparity between that parent's word and deed. A loving parent will speak gently and in love but at other times speak with a rod of discipline. This is how we are to be in the family of God. We are to love one another in truth. Sometimes our love will be caring..sometimes concerned...sometimes confrontive, but it should always be led by the Spirit of God whose love is shed abroad in our hearts.
The second part of this verse takes our love even a step higher. It says that in honor we are to prefer one another. We are to put the other ahead of ourselves. Still reading?...Good. Love like this takes humility. We are to jump at the chance to be first not in what we want, but in giving another what they desire. We are to prefer them over ourselves. We are to love them sacrificially. Jesus is our ultimate example here.
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." --Philippians 2:1-11
We need the mind of Christ to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and to prefer their needs to ours. A mind of humility, submission, meekness and fervent love. Christ is our example. He has done so much for us. Our constant desire should be to please Him, to walk in obedience to Him and worthy of the grace and mercy He has shown us.
Show others Christ by giving honor, giving preference, giving care, and meeting the needs of those He has placed in your life. Give yourself completely to Him and " "Be lovingly loving with one another with loving love."
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We are in Romans 12, verse 10. This section of Scripture, as I have said before, is one of the most practical in the Bible. It is very simple and very easy to understand. Not much I can do as far as exposition is concerned that Paul has not done. He has made his point very clear. As I read Romans 12:9-21, (see below) however, my eyes always seem to fill with tears. I don't know about you but the world that I live in and most of the people I know are not this way. Believers have the desire to live this way but their execution like mine is far from perfect. None of us, sadly, will get it right until we meet Him face to face....until we awaken in His image. I so want to be this way to those around me, though. Paul says this in Philippians and truly it is the heart attitude that we need in this life to live for Christ.
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Romans 12:9-21call us to a supernatural type of living that can only be done by the Spirit of God living inside us. Outside of Christ this type of living is impossible. Do you remember the "therefore" at the beginning of this chapter and what it meant? Because of all that was written in the previous 11 chapters...because of what He has done and the promises we have in Him, we are to respond by presenting ourselves to God as living sacrifices. We are to put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. We are to look and act differently from the rest of the world. Our conduct should be worthy of the Gospel of God.
We already looked at loving genuinely, hating evil and gluing oneself to what is good. Verse 10 tells us to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. John MacArthur says that the words kindly affectionate in the Greek is made up of two words meaning love. So it could say be lovingly loving. Here is the meaning in the Strong's: cherishing one’s kindred, especially parents or children); fond of natural relatives, that is, fraternal towards fellow Christians: - kindly affectioned.
I think on it this way...we are to cherish and treat those around us as gently and kindly as a Mom treats a nursing infant. Do you see how unnatural that would be in our flesh. I know how I felt about each one of my nursing infants...I do not feel that way naturally for those that God puts in my path...if I manifest that kind of love at all it is the Spirit of God inside me...not me. It is also the love I feel toward other like-minded believers. I could be in a room with a group of strangers, but if they are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ it does not take long at all to develop common ground and a unique sense of unity and love with them because of our fellowship in Him. It is definitely supernatural...I have never encountered its likeness in the world. Matthew 18 says this:
"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."
If you receive another believer, you are receiving the Lord Himself. I have seen the kindness and love that Christ Jesus has for us manifested in my church family over and over again. It has been demonstrated to my own family many times. They have lovingly loved us. It is one of the precious benefits of being a child of God. Beautiful, like minded fellowship with other believers.
Paul goes on to say with brotherly love. John MacArthur says that the verse could read then like this. "Be lovingly loving with one another with loving love." I really don't think we have much space in that sentence for argument or loophole.
1 John 5 says this: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." Pretty simple...a believer will love God and love those who belong to Him. We are to be tender-hearted toward one another and forgiving. We are to love one another in truth and sometimes we have to say some hard things in loving them truthfully. Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 4.
"I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
Loving parents not only love their children fervently but warn, exhort, encourage, speak the truth, and make sure they keep the right company. A loving parent sets an example that a child can imitate...and there should be no disparity between that parent's word and deed. A loving parent will speak gently and in love but at other times speak with a rod of discipline. This is how we are to be in the family of God. We are to love one another in truth. Sometimes our love will be caring..sometimes concerned...sometimes confrontive, but it should always be led by the Spirit of God whose love is shed abroad in our hearts.
The second part of this verse takes our love even a step higher. It says that in honor we are to prefer one another. We are to put the other ahead of ourselves. Still reading?...Good. Love like this takes humility. We are to jump at the chance to be first not in what we want, but in giving another what they desire. We are to prefer them over ourselves. We are to love them sacrificially. Jesus is our ultimate example here.
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." --Philippians 2:1-11
We need the mind of Christ to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and to prefer their needs to ours. A mind of humility, submission, meekness and fervent love. Christ is our example. He has done so much for us. Our constant desire should be to please Him, to walk in obedience to Him and worthy of the grace and mercy He has shown us.
Show others Christ by giving honor, giving preference, giving care, and meeting the needs of those He has placed in your life. Give yourself completely to Him and " "Be lovingly loving with one another with loving love."
Love
Mom
Romans 12:9-21
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”[b]
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
One Thing I Have Desired...
Psalm 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I absolutely love this Psalm. It is such a comfort to me. My fears and my anxiety fall away when I remember the Lord. Our lives here on earth as Job says are a few days and full of trouble. My reason for loving this Psalm, however, is not because it comforts me in my fears and sorrows although I love to read it then. My reason for loving this Psalm is in verse 4. It is why the rest of the Psalm is such a comfort. I KNOW who He is because I spend time with Him...I KNOW He is all that David says He is and more.
This was David's one desire and this is what He sought above all else...to spend time with His Lord and behold His beauty. David looked up...looked at His Lord's wonderful and glorious attributes and worshiped. He reveled in Him. He inquired of Him and sought from Him guidance and wisdom. He wanted to be like Him. David did the only thing that is truly needful and His life reflected God's glory. Praying that David's hearts desire would be ours also.
Love
Mom
Love
Mom
Friday, January 14, 2011
Treating Evil like A Cow Pie
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.--Romans 12:9
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We have already looked at the first part of this verse here. For this study we will be looking at the second part. Abhorring what is evil and clinging to what is good. As a believer with a mind transformed by the word of God, we will abhor evil. Jon Courson says that the literal rendering in the Greek is to treat evil like cow pies. We don't bring cow pies into our house, or go anywhere near them. They are abhorrent, repulsive and disgusting. I like that description...pretty simple for me to remember.
God is holy. He is without sin. He cannot look upon evil or tolerate it. If you truly love God you will hate what He hates. Romans 16:19 tells us that we are to be simple (naive) concerning evil. Psalm 34:14 says Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Proverbs 8:13 says The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Psalm 119:104 however is my favorite. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. It is the word that gives us our hatred of evil, because the word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Jesus is called the Word of God. (John 1:1) He is the light of life and in Him there is no darkness at all. He is the light that shines both in our hearts and in this dark, evil world.
Girls, this is so important. The only reason we can abhor evil is because we know the Lord...it is because His Spirit lives inside us. He is the One that abhors it. In our flesh, the bible says, nothing good dwells. In our flesh we are deceived by evil. In our flesh we can call good, evil and evil, good. In Christ we see evil for what it is ...the light of His life inside reveals its true nature to us...ugly, destructive, and deadly both in this life and the next.
Romans 8 tells us that to be spiritually minded is life but to be carnally minded is death. Colossians tells us to set our mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Remember the renewed mind from the first two verses of this chapter? That is what is needed to abhor evil and also what is needed to enable us to cling to what is good. A mind renewed by the word of God. As we go through our day our minds become dirtied with all the mud the world throws at us. It becomes muddied with offenses against us that we dwell on instead of what is right and good. It becomes muddied when we don't get what we want and then dwell on what we don't have and it becomes muddied and muddled with those things we see and hear that are not peaceable and pure.
Studying the word daily cleanses our mind with the water of the word and transforms our thinking. It conforms us into His image...the image of Him in whom there is no darkness at all. The things of the world fall away and we behold Him and remember goodness...our wills once again become aligned with His and we walk in fellowship agreeing. It is then that we can focus our attention on what is good and cling to it. The word cling means to glue yourself to it...stick to it...to keep company with. Unfortunately, it is my tendency to focus on those things in my life that are not right with an attitude that I deserve to have all things well. The bible tells me I deserve nothing but death, and that it is only by His grace and mercy that I am saved. When your thoughts go awry, as they inevitably will, glue yourself to what is good. Make a practice of it. What is good...God is good!
Paul tells us this in Philippians in regard to our thinking.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.--Philippians 4:8-9
Proverbs 23:7 says, For as a man thinks, so is he and Luke 6:45 tells us that out of the abundance of the heart (what we are dwelling on) the mouth speaks. Don't dwell on cow pies...dwell on the word, the things of God...focus your eyes on Him and you will speak psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around you.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We have already looked at the first part of this verse here. For this study we will be looking at the second part. Abhorring what is evil and clinging to what is good. As a believer with a mind transformed by the word of God, we will abhor evil. Jon Courson says that the literal rendering in the Greek is to treat evil like cow pies. We don't bring cow pies into our house, or go anywhere near them. They are abhorrent, repulsive and disgusting. I like that description...pretty simple for me to remember.
God is holy. He is without sin. He cannot look upon evil or tolerate it. If you truly love God you will hate what He hates. Romans 16:19 tells us that we are to be simple (naive) concerning evil. Psalm 34:14 says Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Proverbs 8:13 says The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Psalm 119:104 however is my favorite. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. It is the word that gives us our hatred of evil, because the word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Jesus is called the Word of God. (John 1:1) He is the light of life and in Him there is no darkness at all. He is the light that shines both in our hearts and in this dark, evil world.
Girls, this is so important. The only reason we can abhor evil is because we know the Lord...it is because His Spirit lives inside us. He is the One that abhors it. In our flesh, the bible says, nothing good dwells. In our flesh we are deceived by evil. In our flesh we can call good, evil and evil, good. In Christ we see evil for what it is ...the light of His life inside reveals its true nature to us...ugly, destructive, and deadly both in this life and the next.
Romans 8 tells us that to be spiritually minded is life but to be carnally minded is death. Colossians tells us to set our mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Remember the renewed mind from the first two verses of this chapter? That is what is needed to abhor evil and also what is needed to enable us to cling to what is good. A mind renewed by the word of God. As we go through our day our minds become dirtied with all the mud the world throws at us. It becomes muddied with offenses against us that we dwell on instead of what is right and good. It becomes muddied when we don't get what we want and then dwell on what we don't have and it becomes muddied and muddled with those things we see and hear that are not peaceable and pure.
Studying the word daily cleanses our mind with the water of the word and transforms our thinking. It conforms us into His image...the image of Him in whom there is no darkness at all. The things of the world fall away and we behold Him and remember goodness...our wills once again become aligned with His and we walk in fellowship agreeing. It is then that we can focus our attention on what is good and cling to it. The word cling means to glue yourself to it...stick to it...to keep company with. Unfortunately, it is my tendency to focus on those things in my life that are not right with an attitude that I deserve to have all things well. The bible tells me I deserve nothing but death, and that it is only by His grace and mercy that I am saved. When your thoughts go awry, as they inevitably will, glue yourself to what is good. Make a practice of it. What is good...God is good!
Paul tells us this in Philippians in regard to our thinking.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.--Philippians 4:8-9
Proverbs 23:7 says, For as a man thinks, so is he and Luke 6:45 tells us that out of the abundance of the heart (what we are dwelling on) the mouth speaks. Don't dwell on cow pies...dwell on the word, the things of God...focus your eyes on Him and you will speak psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around you.
Love
Mom
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