Monday, April 18, 2011
Christophobia: Dead Man in the Sky
Christophobia: Dead Man in the Sky: "The physical Universe in all its vastness was before me. I saw it as if outside it looking in, and it was incomprehensibly big. There..."
God's Desire...
Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. --Isaiah 66:1-2
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I was finishing up my reading and study of the book of Ezra this morning and reached this verse in Chapter ten.
Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.--Ezra 10:3
Here is the portion that spoke to my heart---"and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God."
I love that. These types of phrases are found all over the word of God and are used to describe someone who believes. A believer trembles or stands in awe of the word of God and his desire is to obey it. This portion of Ezra is what brought me to Isaiah 66: 2-3 (see above)
Isaiah is beginning his prophecy summation here with a reminder to the people of what God is NOT looking for and what He IS looking for. He says heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool. And asks where is the house you will build Me and where is the place of My rest? God goes on to tell them that He made all those things...truly the universe is His dwelling place. The only thing we can give Him as finite human beings is the only thing that He desires from us. He wants us to take the cup of salvation He offers and obey Him as an expression of our love for Him. This is expressed beautifully in Psalm 116.
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. --Psalm 116:12-13
Whom will God look upon. "On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." Girls, our God looks for a heart to dwell in that is tender and broken. A heart that is not concerned with outward displays but inward obedience. He desires to dwell in the heart that trembles at His word. A heart that takes His word seriously.
"Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."--John 14:23
How beautiful is our God. His desire is to dwell with us. To live inside our very hearts. Psalm 34 tells us the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Isaiah 57 says this:
"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. "
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. He searches for hearts to dwell in who acknowledge their own helplessness and whose desire is not to rely on themselves but on Him who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscience. They come to Him who created them...to Him who knows exactly what they need and rely on His ability, strength and power as they journey through this life. Heaven is so unlike the earth. Self-sufficiency is not a virtue there...neither is self-exaltation and heaven's door is open to those who understand this. Tremble at His word. Stand in awe of it...surrender to His Spirit and obey His commandments.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I was finishing up my reading and study of the book of Ezra this morning and reached this verse in Chapter ten.
Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.--Ezra 10:3
Here is the portion that spoke to my heart---"and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God."
I love that. These types of phrases are found all over the word of God and are used to describe someone who believes. A believer trembles or stands in awe of the word of God and his desire is to obey it. This portion of Ezra is what brought me to Isaiah 66: 2-3 (see above)
Isaiah is beginning his prophecy summation here with a reminder to the people of what God is NOT looking for and what He IS looking for. He says heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool. And asks where is the house you will build Me and where is the place of My rest? God goes on to tell them that He made all those things...truly the universe is His dwelling place. The only thing we can give Him as finite human beings is the only thing that He desires from us. He wants us to take the cup of salvation He offers and obey Him as an expression of our love for Him. This is expressed beautifully in Psalm 116.
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. --Psalm 116:12-13
Whom will God look upon. "On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." Girls, our God looks for a heart to dwell in that is tender and broken. A heart that is not concerned with outward displays but inward obedience. He desires to dwell in the heart that trembles at His word. A heart that takes His word seriously.
"Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."--John 14:23
How beautiful is our God. His desire is to dwell with us. To live inside our very hearts. Psalm 34 tells us the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Isaiah 57 says this:
"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. "
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. He searches for hearts to dwell in who acknowledge their own helplessness and whose desire is not to rely on themselves but on Him who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscience. They come to Him who created them...to Him who knows exactly what they need and rely on His ability, strength and power as they journey through this life. Heaven is so unlike the earth. Self-sufficiency is not a virtue there...neither is self-exaltation and heaven's door is open to those who understand this. Tremble at His word. Stand in awe of it...surrender to His Spirit and obey His commandments.
Love
Mom
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