Standing and Falling - Repost

 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise.--Mark 14:29-31

To My Sweet Daughters

I so love Jesus.  Even when we have an unrealistic view of ourselves, like Peter does here, Jesus sees and loves us anyway.  Read the verses that come before....


And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP WILL BE SCATTERED.' 


It was obvious here that Peter could have imagined the other disciples stumbling, but not himself!  Beware where you think you stand the Bible tells us...lest you fall!  We know the end of the story.  As Jesus predicted, Peter denied Him three times and the word tells us that when he thought about it, he wept.

Here is what is wonderful about this story.  The Lord knows we are going to fail and He knows it ahead of time.  In fact we know from another account of this same story that Jesus prayed for Peter ahead of time...that his faith would not fail.  He knows all about us.  He knows our past, our present and future sins and loves us anyway!!  He died for us when we were ungodly and His enemy!  We can't disappoint God, girls.  He knows we are dust.  The fact that He sees our hearts, as desperately wicked as they are, is a good thing.  Peter had the right desire but his flesh was weak.  Jesus took that desire...that smoking flax...and did exceedingly abundantly in Peter's life..truly above all that Peter could ask or think.  This burly, arrogant fishermen became a pillar in the early church...strengthening others in their faith...speaking and bringing thousands to Jesus.  I am sure this incident in Peter's life taught Him much about the weakness of His flesh and the glory of God.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  that no flesh should glory in His presence. --1Corinthians 1:27-29

Peter had such an unrealistic view of himself.  Trials show us the reality of our faith.  This is always a good thing because we see our need and cling...and isn't that what is best for us...isn't that what is needed?  My prayer today and every day for each of us is that we would not only trust Him, but would yield ourselves up to Him to receive His life and to let that life work out its results in us.  To live in Him, to Him, for Him and by Him.

Girls, without Jesus, we are withered branches, not good for anything but the fire.  There is no purpose or reason for our existence except that which we find in Him.   May each one of our lives be hidden with Christ in God!!

Love
Mom

Worship - Repost

 To My  Daughters...

I was in Genesis 22 this morning as well as Mark 14 and 1 Corinthians 2 and, of course,  by sheer coincidence they all tied together. : D

According to Chuck Smith, the first mention of love in the bible is found in Genesis 22.  The law of first mention is a method of biblical interpretation that takes the first use of a word in Scripture and uses it to set the pattern for its use throughout the Bible.  The love spoken of in Genesis 22 is the love of a father for his son.

Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”--Genesis 2:2

 The first mention of love in all four gospels speak also to the love of a father for His Son.  Specifically, God for Jesus.  Methinks someone is trying to tell us something.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” --Matthew 3:16-17

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.  Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” --Mark 1:10-11

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well 
pleased.” --Luke 3:21-22

Finally, in the Gospel of John the first mention of love bears an uncanny resemblance to Genesis 22 where Abraham was told by God to take his only son  whom he loved and offer him as a burnt offering to the Lord.

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

God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, but intervened at the last moment.

And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” --Genesis 22:12

God provided the sacrifice that day for Abraham and 2000 years later in the very same spot on that very same mountain, provided again...this time by giving His only Beloved Son, as a sacrifice for our sins.

Love is obedience...It says this also in Genesis 22...

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” --Genesis 22:3-5


Abraham went in obedience to His God TO WORSHIP on the top of Mount Moriah.  Girls, this is the very picture of what worship is!  To worship means to literally bow down.  To bow and lay down our wills for the will of our God.  This is what Abraham did.  Love is obedience.  Worship is submitting our wills to our Father in heaven and allowing Him to do as "seems good to Him."  Give him your heart, soul, body, mind and strength when you worship Him.  Lay it all down before Him.

It is important to note that Abraham said "we" will come back to you again.  Abraham did not know how God was going to work that out, but he believed God's promise...that in Isaac his seed would be called.  He believed that somehow, if necessary, God would bring His son back from the dead to keep His promise to Abraham.  He believed and stood fast, because God had promised.


This is where I stopped in my reading of the Gospel of Mark today. 


“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Jesus worshiped in the Garden of Gethsemane...He laid down His will...He became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Prayer and worship are the means God has provided for us to lay down our wills and come to that beautiful place of submission.  It is then that He can do exceedingly abundantly in our lives as He did in Abraham's life as well as in His Son's.  Worship requires us to put our eyes off of ourselves and our circumstances and place them on Him who is able!

Now, of course, you can bow down before God, but still have a heart lifted in pride...think of the worship of the publican vs the Pharisee.  The publican whose heart was truly bowed down before His Lord went away justified.  The Pharisee went away unjustified, condemned and rejected by God.  Pride shuts the door on effective worship. 

The blessing comes to those whose heart is right before Him!  Worship and prayer sanctify our troubles to our highest good.   Prayerful worship unburdens our hearts and enables us to align our will with His, effectively delivering us from ourselves!  True worship drives away unbelief and while not removing the trouble, enables us to better bear it.

These were the verses I read in 1 Corinthians 2....

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,  which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written:  

      “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
      Nor have entered into the heart of man
      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Paul is speaking of heaven here, but beloved believer...we have this now!  Biblical hope is sure and certain.  It is as certain as if it already happened.  Do not be blind to the glorious, glorious fact that Christ died for you when you were against Him...when you were a sinner.  Do not esteem His grace and forgiveness here in your place of sourjourn, lightly!  Appreciate what you have right here...right now!  Death has no sting for us...no fear.  We are His. Your circumstances might not be perfect but as a believer you live, move and have your being in Him.  What could be sweeter.  Stand fast!  Worship Him in Spirit and in truth!

Love
Mom