Getting Past the Stench….

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”—John 11:38-40 (emphasis mine)

I stopped here in my reading this morning.  Even as an optimist, there are times when the eyes of my heart can focus on the stench and corruption of this world instead of the glory of God that surrounds me.  Oh, Father give me a heart of faith that sees Your goodness always.  Where sin abounds, Your grace abounds much more!  You give  beauty for ashes…the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 

 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.(is everlasting)—Psalm 107:1

Whoever is wise will observe these things,

And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.—Psalm 107:43

Verse 1 of Psalm 107 commands us to give thanks to the Lord.   It also tells us why.  For He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. The very last verse of Psalm 107 says that whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  Most of this psalm is spent reviewing the variegated trials that come humanity’s way in the course of a lifetime while at the same time showing us how God assists us and supports us through each of these hardships and distresses.  

What are we wise to observe as God does this?   His lovingkindness!   What a great thing to make a practice of observing as we navigate through the sorrow and tribulation that come with life lived in this fallen world.  Trials can become opportunities to observe the Lord’s goodness and rightly understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  How often during a trial does Satan try to confuse and discourage us with lies.  He whispers to us when we are scared, telling us that we are alone, without anyone to help.  But making a practice of “looking for and seeing” God’s merciful hand on our lives will serve to counter the lies and shore up our assurance as we become personally acquainted with it (His lovingkindness) in our own hearts and lives. Psalm 26:3 is so helpful here..

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

Keep God’s goodness before your eyes and His truth as a light to your path.  He has given us His Spirit to help us.  We are NOT alone.  

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14: 25-27 

Who is wise?

Let him understand these things.

Who is prudent?

Let him know them.

For the ways of the LORD are right;

The righteous walk in them,

But transgressors stumble in them.—Hosea 14:9

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.—Jeremiah 9:24

[that we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.—Ephesians 3:18-19

But the Word of God Endures Forever…

Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.—1 Kings 8:9

I stopped at this verse because I wondered what happened to Aaron’s rod that budded and golden pot that had the manna that Hebrews 9 speaks of. 

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.—Hebrews 9:1-5

I spent some time thinking on this before I went to the commentators.  No joy. 😀  Some expositors pointed me to Exodus 16:33 and Numbers 17:10 saying that the articles mentioned were never in the ark, but by it…being laid in the place before the testimony. My favorite explanation and the one I wish I had thought of goes to Jon Courson who says this:

“Hebrews 9:4 tells us that the ark contained the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod. Here, however, we see only the Ten Commandments within the ark. I believe the Holy Spirit included this information to help us to come to a very important understanding. That is, signs and wonders—budding rods and manna—as wonderful as they are, are not lasting. What lasts, what endures, what is absolutely essential is the Word of God.”

Amen!  

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the LORD endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.—1 Peter 1:23-25

Return to Your Rest, O My Soul…

 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”—John 10:23-30

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.—Colossians 3:3

As I read this passage from John 10 this morning it was as if God was enveloping me with His protection and care by throwing one of those “newfangled” weighted comfort blankets over me.   Beloved, In Him, we are secure!  In Him we live and move and have our being. We, as true believers, walk through this life under His covering blanket of security.  Our God is in sovereign control...no one can snatch us from His hand.

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”—Luke 6:37-40

As a true child of God, Jesus holds one of my hands and God, my Father, the other. They are united in purpose and in action. (I and My Father are one.”) My safety and security is their priority. They have hedged me behind and before and have laid their hand upon me. 

To get to me, you have to go through God first. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for His flock. I am His lamb…I BELONG to Him!  I hear his voice and I follow Him.  He gives me eternal life and promises that I will never perish and neither shall anyone snatch me out of His hand. The LORD  is MY Shepherd. My security rests with Him.  In Him, I have everything I need both in this age and in the age to come. 

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.—Psalm 116:7

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.—Psalm 139:7-10

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:31-39

Praising Him in Insufficiency

 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.  17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”—John 10:11-18

Two things from this passage of Scripture this morning caught my attention.

Love = Sacrifice

1. Verse 11: (Jesus is speaking) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep

Love is a decision

1. Verse 18: (Jesus is speaking) No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.—John 3:16 (emphasis mine)

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"  29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Which is the first commandment of all?—Mark 12:28:31 

One cross-reference verse for above is Romans 13:8-10:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Feeling overwhelmed by the impossibility of loving as Christ loved yet?  Wait…there’s more. Below is something I journaled a while back about Romans 13:8. I am crediting it to John MacArthur. 

Love is the debt that is never paid...it is always owed.  Love is the summation of our obedience for in love the whole law is fulfilled.  Love is a decision and is always an action.  The love that God has shed abroad in our hearts by His Spirit involves teaching and speaking the truth in love to others, (faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) The love that God has poured out in our hearts also ministers to needs, sets an example that does not lead people toward sin, covers faults, forgives, endures and sacrifices on behalf of others.  

As a believer, my spirit truly desires to love others with the love God has so graciously shed abroad in my heart.  Sadly, I fail so much more than I succeed. Even now, as I write this, I am failing miserably and contending with the people God has so graciously and lovingly given me. (HEAVY SIGH).  I feel a lot  like Paul must have in Romans 7…with my mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.  Or maybe even like Solomon did as he became king…overwhelmed. 

Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.—1 Kings 4:7

If you feel similarly, you are in good company. It is the right feeling. In our flesh nothing good dwells.  Without Christ we, like Paul and like Solomon, can do nothing good.  

Beloved, thankfully God can even work our insufficiency for our good and His glory. This morning then ,  I, for one, will praise Him for my insufficiencies, my weaknesses and my infirmities.  They are good things!  Things to thank God for because they cause us to lift up our voices, our hearts and our souls to the One who is sufficient…to the One who can give us all we need in this life and in the one to come. 

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.—Romans 7:24-25

They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.—Psalm 34:5

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. 10 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.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.—2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Ruffled Feathers…

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,

But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.—Proverbs 17:9 (AMP Version)

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."—1 Peter 4:8

How do we preserve peace with others…with family and with neighbors? How do we show them the goodness and kindness of God?  We cover or overwhelm them (and their offenses) with love.  To love someone with God’s love is to seek their highest good. 

John MacArthur describes the word fervently (from 1 Peter 4:8 above) in this way.  It is very convicting. 

Fervent means “to be stretched,” “to be strained.” It is used of a runner who is moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit. This kind of love requires the Christian to put another’s spiritual good ahead of his own desires in spite of being treated unkindly, ungraciously, or even with hostility 

He is also careful to point out that this teaching does not preclude the discipline of a sinning, unrepentant church member (cf. Matt. 18:15–18; 1 Cor. 5), but means specifically that a Christian should overlook sins against him if possible and always be ready to forgive insults and unkindnesses.

Beloved…As much as depends on you, live peaceably with others.  Do not stir up strife by stirring up the pot and repeating an unpleasant matter, an insult, an unkindness or an offense.  Instead, cover them with love by overlooking them…especially those offenses that are against you. Meditate on the Lord’s goodness toward you instead of the offenses of another.  Hebrews 12:3-4 really helps me here, because aside from making me smile at my own pettiness, it truly allows me to see the magnitude of what Christ suffered on my behalf. I have NOTHING to complain about.  

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

I love the way Matthew Henry exposits Proverbs 17:9.  My favorite line is bolded.  

“The way to preserve peace among relations and neighbours is to make the best of every thing, not to tell others what has been said or done against them when it is not at all necessary to their safety, nor to take notice of what has been said or done against them when it is not at all necessary to their safety, nor to take notice of what has been said or done against ourselves, but to excuse both, and put the best construction upon them. "It was an oversight; therefore overlook it. It was done through forgetfulness; therefore forget it. It perhaps made nothing of you; do you make nothing of it." 2. The ripping up of faults is the ripping out of love, and nothing tends more to the separating of friends, and setting them at variance, than the repeating of matters that have been in variance; for they commonly lose nothing in the repetition, but the things themselves are aggravated and the passions about them revived and exasperated. The best method of peace is by an amnesty or act of oblivion.”  

Below are some verses that have helped me pursue love (albeit so very imperfectly) towards the people God has graciously placed in my life.

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.—Romans 13:8-10

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,—1 Peter 1:22

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.—1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.—Philippians 2:1-4

Falling Into the Merciful Hand of God…

And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

11 Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 "Go and tell David, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you."'" 13 So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me."—2 Samuel 24:10-13

God offered David a choice of three punishments. David, knowing that the mercies of the Lord are great, said this…

And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."—2 Samuel 24:14

I am so with David on this one!  Let me fall into the hands of the One who is so merciful, good and kind that He died for me when I was still His enemy. 

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.—Romans 5:6-11

The hands of man are self-seeking, hard, and cruel.  The love that God has for me is true love…the kind of love that seeks my highest good. What a relief and a comfort to know that as His beloved daughter, I am ALWAYS in His gentle and loving embrace.  Even when I sin, His banner over me is love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.

The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children,

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Psalm 103:8-18

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?—Micah 6:8

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.—Luke 6:36

In My Distress…

In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

And made me bold with strength in my soul.—Psalm 138:3

In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry entered His ears.—2 Samuel 22:7

Father,

In my distress, I call upon You....I cry to my God and You hear me!  My cry is heard by Your ears!  You save me out of all my trouble and encamp Your angels all about me.  You deliver me from all my fears...I look to You and am lightened and my face unashamed.  You answer even before I call and when I am still speaking, You hear.  

I will wait on You today, Father.  I will wait on You and You will give me peace.  You will strengthen my heart and give me what I need.  You are the great I AM...the Becoming One...You become for me whatever I need.   You give power to me when I am weak and renew my strength.  I will mount up on wings as eagles; I  will run and not grow weary; I will walk and not faint because You, my God, uphold me. My soul will follow hard after You...Your grace is sufficient  and Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.  I will glory in my infirmities because then Your power will rest upon me, for when I am weak then I am strong!  I will draw near to You, my God, and take shelter under Your wings of love. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

You will stretch out Your hand

Against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.—Psalm 138:7-8

Be Merciful to Me!

 God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us,

Selah

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.—Psalm 67:1-2

Oh Father be merciful me, a miserable sinner!   Truly, all that is good in my life is because of Your great mercy!  Forgive my sins and cause Your face to shine upon me!  Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. 

You are the light of the world.  He who follows You will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  In Your favor make my (Your) light in me shine bright.  May all who see it fear and place their trust in You.  Oh that each of us, Your children, would by Your Spirit have this same desire. Then, truly, Your way would be known on earth and Your salvation among the nations. 

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children,

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Psalm 103:8-18

24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’—Numbers 6:24-26