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

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]

   

 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;

        Be of good courage,
         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

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

That Your Joy May be Full!

 “For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he [Nehemiah or Ezra] said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” ~ Nehemiah 8:9-10

 Written by my daughter, Rebecca...

The Law had been read aloud to the people on the first day of the seventh month, just as prescribed in Deuteronomy 31, and those who heard it were overcome with grief. The inevitable result of understanding the Law of God is to understand ...how far you fall short of it. The children of the captivity were realizing, for perhaps the first time, how devastatingly great a gap their sin created between themselves and the Lord. They were realizing how abominable was their rebellion and the rebellion of their fathers. It was indeed worthy of many, many tears.

But that day was a holy day, a day of Sabbath-rest and worship. Mourning was not appropriate; in fact, to persist in formal grief, when the Lord had instituted celebration, would directly contradict the reason they were supposedly weeping. You say you are sorry for your sin; WHY ARE YOU STILL SINNING? No amount of tears and sackcloth, or sacrifices and offerings, can ever remove the stain of evil. It’s there. You’re guilty. There’s nothing you can do about it. Your only chance is to throw yourself at the mercy of the Lord God.

And that’s where the joy of the Lord comes in!

Israel was guilty, and they knew it. We are guilty. Yet we can go, eat the fat, drink the sweet, share our abundance, and celebrate? How is that possible?

Jesus is why that is possible! Jesus Messiah, the fulfillment of the Law, is the reason we have the Lord’s joy fulfilled in ourselves. He paid our debt, cleansed us from our sin, and presents us to God the Father as new creations. 1 John 1:1-4, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

The joy of the Lord is all that we have in Him. It’s His mercy, His love, His grace, His presence, His blessings, His hand, His guidance, His wisdom, His peace, His sovereignty, His care, His forgiveness – the list could go on and on! The joy of the Lord, the joy of the relationship we have with Him and all that He has given us, is our strength. It’s how we face each day. It’s how we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It’s how we have hope in the midst of darkness. The joy of the Lord is, literally, the LORD HIMSELF! Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’”

The omnipotent Creator God is with me, loving me, supporting me, refining me, forgiving me, and working all things together for good in my life. I know He’s there for me, always. I know I dwell between His shoulders, at His mercy seat, sheltered beneath His wings. I know He’s redeemed me and made me His beloved daughter. I know He’s preparing a place for me in His kingdom. I know I can boldly come before His throne of grace. I know He never changes. I DON’T know the limit of His grace. Tell me, if I have HIM…is there anything greater or more glorious? Is there anything that compares to Him? Is there any good thing that I lack? No! Not ever!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,



And He adds no sorrow with it.”

Tests of Knowing Him - 1 John 2:3-6

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked--1 John 2:3-6


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

A life in a relationship with Jesus looks like something.  That is important, so I will say it again.  A life in a relationship with Jesus looks like something.  Evidence of your faith should be well...evident. Those who are truly born again have been given a new nature.  This new nature will evidence itself in obedience to the Father's commands and a love for God and for one another.  John wanted believers to have an assurance of their salvation and to continue in it. He did not want people to be deceived either by themselves or by others.  Be warned, John presents the truths of this book in very black and white terms. Light vs dark. Truth vs error.  No real gray areas. John gives us the marks of those who are truly in fellowship with Christ...who truly know Him.  They should be a comfort to those who are, and to those who are not, they should be a warning to search their own hearts diligently.

The passage above gives us two ways that you know you belong to Christ - do we do what He says, and do we walk as He walked?  More specifically, are we keeping His commandments? (vs 3) Are we keeping His Word? (vs 5) Are we walking as He walked? (vs 6)

Our desire should be to obey His commandments and to do always those things that would please Him. Jesus lived a life of obedience to His Father.  He is our pattern. We possess the Spirit of Christ...our lives should reflect His characteristics and His nature.  It is not that as a born again believer we display these characteristics faultlessly, but there should be a habitual pattern of obedience to our Heavenly Father and a love for one another manifested daily in the lives we live.  The key words there being habitual and daily.  If obedience to the Father, is not the general pattern and direction of your life and you say that you know Him, the Bible says you are a liar and the truth is not in you.

On the other hand, verse 5 says that if we do keep His word, then the love of God is perfected in us.  I love that.  The love that God has for us has reached its mark in us and accomplished what it was designed to do, if we respond by obeying His commandments.  In essence our regenerated hearts say...Lord, I see that you are good and you are holy. I see the beauty, goodness and rightness of your ways.  I see my own sin and selfishness and I don't want it anymore.  I want to be like you.  I want to do only those things that please you.  The Bible says in Romans that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. .The love of God being perfected in the heart of sinner is a beautiful thing to behold and again...it most definitely looks like something. 

Finally, in verse 6, it says,  if we say we abide in Him, we should walk as He walked.  Jesus' life is our pattern.  His obedience to the Father is the standard.  All questions girls about how to live are answered in the study of Jesus' life.  We have His Spirit, His power and His presence.  We can walk as He walked.

John 6:38 says this:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.


Jesus had no hidden agendas.  No secret motives or plans. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of His Father in heaven.  If we walk as He walked, this should be our purpose also.

Love
Mom

God is Faithful

Jeremiah 39:10-14  But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time. Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,  "Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you." So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's chief officers; then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.

Jeremiah 39:15-18 Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, "Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you.  But I will deliver you in that day," says the LORD, "and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me," says the LORD.' "

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

After 40 years of prophesying it finally happened.  Chapter 39 of Jeremiah begins with the fall of Jerusalem.  The Lord had told Jeremiah that there would not be fruit from his ministry and there was not.  Jeremiah, however, had been faithful to do all that the Lord had told him to but his warnings had fallen on deaf ears.

The first 10 verses of this chapter speak to judgment on King Zedekiah, his family and the nobles of Judah because of their refusal to obey the word of God. The next several verses are filled with God's mercy, care, faithfulness and grace to Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech, Zedekiah's servant. 

The Lord had promised Jeremiah that he would survive the opposition and persecution he would face in speaking His truth to the people.  I wanted to sing as I read the words of the King of Babylon telling the captain of the guard to care for Jeremiah and to do to him just as he says. Treat him well...let him do what he wants.  They gave me encouragement and hope and reminded me that God is faithful.  His promises are sure.  He preserves those who love Him and put their trust in Him.

 Read God's promise to the prophet in Jeremiah 15:11.

The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.


Jeremiah 38:6-9 tell the story of Ebed-Melech which means servant of the king.  (don't miss the irony in his name) Ebed-melech saw that Jeremiah was in dire need and in danger of death.  At his own peril, he performed a great kindness to Jeremiah by speaking to King Zedekiah on the prophet's behalf.   King Zedekiah gave Ebed-Melech permission to haul Jeremiah out of the dungeon. (pit)  God who sees all, rewarded his kindness to Jeremiah by protecting him from the Babylonians.  I love Jon Courson's words of application here:

"You might not be able to perform miracles.  You might not have musical talent.  You might not be an evangelist.  You might feel like an Ethiopian, without anything to offer.  But you can find a person in the pit--in your community, your school, your office.  You can intercede on his behalf.  then you can do something to help him practically.  You can pull him out of the pit."

Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.


Love
Mom

Someone On Our Side...

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.--1 John 2:1-2

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

It is night time and it is snowing hard outside.  Mikayla is right next to me in bed reading.  Rebecca is in bed and Anna is in her room writing and listening to music.  Suzanne is happy and safe at her house watching Ramona and Beezus with her family.  It is a cozy night for everyone. How good our God is!

We are looking at the first two verses of 1 John, Chapter 2 for this study.

John who is probably close to 100 writing this calls us his little children. I love that.  One of  his reasons he says for writing is so that we may not sin.  I am pretty sure John knows we are going to sin. God's standard, however, is perfection....Sin is, sadly, a fact of life for the born again believer.  (See 1 John 1:8) John also makes it clear that there is forgiveness when we sin. (1 John 1:9) One of the differences between a believer and a non believer is that a believer admits and confesses sin.  They have a settled understanding that they are sinners in need of forgiveness.  A believer also has the power not to sin.  We can surrender to the Spirit of God who dwells within us and obey Him instead of our own desires and lust.  We are free to obey God.  Christ died both to sin's penalty and to its power.  His death will never need repeating.  He forever paid the penalty and forever broke sin's power over those who belong to Him.

Romans 6:6-11" knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord"

Unbelievers are slaves to sin...believers have been set free from the power and the penalty of sin.  They live unto God.   As believers, we can now choose to obey God by surrendering to the Spirit of God who dwells within us.  If we sin, John tells us we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.  He Himself is the propitiation for not only our sins but the sins of the whole world.

What is an Advocate?  An advocate as used in the bible is a helper or one who comes alongside.  In modern terms it might be used to describe a defense attorney.  Christ is our Advocate!  Satan accuses us before the throne of God night and day. (See Rev 12:10) Jesus Christ, the righteous, our Advocate before the throne of God, is Himself the propitiation that appeases the wrath of God.  He paid the penalty for our sin.  All manner of sin is forgiven but one...that is the sin of unbelief...of blasphemy against the Spirit of God.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.--Matthew 12:31-32

The one sin that condemns us to an eternity in hell is the refusal to listen to the Spirit of God speaking to our heart.  It is the voice that tells you that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  It is the voice that says, "God's Son died for your sin...accept His free gift of salvation and live forever".  You know, in rereading the words I have written, I am thinking, "wow, how gracious is our God."  My Father is God, my Brother is Jesus Christ who is my Advocate before my Father.  Satan accuses me and my Lord and my Brother, Jesus, says to charge it to His account.  He paid the penalty for that sin and then points to His finished work on the cross.  He took the wrath of My Father...His Father, upon Himself so that I could live forever with Him. I stand in awe!  Read 1 John 4:10,Revelation 12:10, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:33-34 and Hebrews 7:24-25.

Rejoice...Our hope is in Him!

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.--1 John 4:10


There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.--Romans 8:1

Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 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.--Romans 8:33-34

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.--Hebrews 7:24-25



Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.--Revelation 12:10

Christ died for the sins of the whole world...I have heard it put that as far as sin extends, His propitiation extends.  If you have not already done so, accept His free gift and salvation is yours...your debt will be paid and you will be free from the power of sin and death. 


Love
Mom

Folding Under Duress...

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,  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,--1Peter 1:22-23
  


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

1 Peter was written to Jewish believers who were experiencing an increasing amount of persecution for their faith.   Peter is called the Apostle of Hope.  He reminds these believers to fix their eyes on the goal...to look ahead in the suffering and persecution they would inevitably face and see glory of an eternity in heaven.

Peter also knew what it was like to fold under duress.  He had denied His Lord three times.  An exhortation to love one another fervently is always needed, but it is especially needed for those undergoing times of trials, persecution and grief.  I know for myself when I am undergoing trials or am grieving, minor offenses can sometimes take on major proportions.  Why?  Because there is a battle raging in my heart.  My flesh is warring against my spirit.  I have not yet surrendered my grief, disappointment, anger, etc over to the One that is sovereign.  I am not walking by faith knowing that God will work all things together for good...even my pain and suffering and sometimes especially my pain and suffering.  I rail against Him for the situation I find myself in.  This war within will inevitably spill out on those around me.  No one understood this better than Peter.  

Jesus warned Peter that he would face persecution...what is the advice our Lord gave Peter?

"'Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.'"

"Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays You?'  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?'”

So often when we face a trial we look around and say Lord...what about them...How come they are not being put through it.

"Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.'”

Follow Him...keep your focus on Him.  What advice does Peter tell these believers who were or would be facing persecution?  Peter tells them to love one another fervently with a pure heart. Perhaps Peter was remembering what His Lord did when facing His time of persecution and the death of the cross.  He loved those around Him fervently, didn't He?

Read John 14-17.  Jesus' focus was never on Himself...it was always on those that surrounded Him and on those who would come to know Him by faith.   What an example He gave us for handling offenses, trials, rejection and grief.  He kept His eyes on the goal and focused on the joy (us) that was set before Him and despite the provocation he reacted graciously to all that were around Him.

Our goal here on earth is to glorify Him, to bring Christ close to those who do not know Him and to encourage those who do...to magnify Him.  How do we do this...by living our lives for Him.  By remembering in offenses and sorrow that they are never about us...they are to be used to make us more like He is in order that others would see Jesus. Girls, don't get in the way by reacting to others in offense and unforgiveness or by retaliating in like manner. Remember grace...remember what we truly deserve and pray for those who may not have treated you like you think you deserved.  Christ reached out in love at the hour He faced the greatest of offenses and rejection - for you - and in so doing, He reflected the glory of God. Christ loves us fervently...
can we do any less for others?


Peter then goes on to remind them that they are all members of the same family born of incorruptible seed through the word of God which abides forever.  If you read on into the next chapter, Peter continues by saying because you are born of God you are to lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  Don't miss the remedy in that...there is an active putting off or laying aside of sin and a desire for the word.  The word is what we need and it is what the Jewish believers needed also.  The word should be our desire.  The word is what Jesus used when He faced temptation in the wilderness.  It is what the Spirit of God uses to combat the wars that are fought inside our own hearts.  We were conceived by the Word of God and we are to continue in it.  The word is our spiritual food.  It is what transforms us, renews our minds and conforms us into the image of Christ.  It is always the answer.

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.--2 Corinthians 3:18

Love
Mom

Let Love be Without Hypocrisy. ..Romans 12:9

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.--Romans 12:9

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


Romans 12...one of the most practical chapters in the Bible.  Verses 9 through 21 are filled with practical exhortations that touch all areas of life and can be used to guide us in our moment by moment journey through life.  Paul begins in Romans 12:9 with an exhortation to let love be without hypocrisy. We will not get to the other two in the triplet for this study...abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Starting here with love makes so much sense to me.   It all flows from love.  Christians are to live lives of love.  They are to owe no one anything but love and are to put on love.  The first fruit of the Spirit is love and all the rest follow.  When we love, the bible says, we fulfill the law. We know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. Paul tells us in Corinthians that love is the more excellent way and if  we do not have love we are a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  He goes on to say even if we have faith enough to move mountains but have not love we are nothing.  Peter tells us we are to love one another fervently.   Christians are to abound in love. Are you getting the picture?  Loving is basic to our Christian walk.  Love is the greatest thing.  Our genuine love for one another will draw others to Jesus. 




The Bible tells us clearly how we are to love.  Our love is to be self-sacrificing....Jesus Christ Himself being our prime example.  It is not to be phony, feigned or pretended.  Our love for others is to be genuine, free from flattery and deceit and without any hidden motive. Our words and deeds should match. We are to meet others at the point of their need in love and service.

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

I love this verse because it really gives me no excuse not to love and it is very clear on what is required. Here is what John MacArthur has to say regarding this verse:

"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.  Moving on to the next part of the verse "for love will cover a multitude of sins"...is quoted from Proverbs 10:12.  It is the nature of true spiritual love, whether from God to man or Christian to Christian to cover sins.  This teaching does not preclude the discipline of a sinning, unrepentant church member.  It means, specifically that a Christian should overlook sins against him if possible and always be ready to forgive insults and unkindness." 


Wow...think how we would look as a body if we all loved one another fervently and covered sin.  Think how many marriages would not end in divorce if one of the partners did not take offense and instead responded in love. Think of the examples that we would set for our children.


1 John 3:18-20 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 

Genuine love displays itself not in empty words but in deeds. Genuine love is patient, kind, without envy and not showy or boastful.  Genuine love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.  Genuine love bears all things, hopes all things and endures all things.  Genuine love never fails....it always has an effect. Put your name in the place of "genuine love" and see how far you fall short.  Now put Jesus' name there.  God is love...His name alone fits. 
 
"True love leaves the stage and walks the path of real life."---Dr. Donald Barnhouse    I love that...

James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Love meets another at the point of their need.


Insincere love...hypocritical love is the opposite of genuine love.  It is ugly and destructive.  It takes something precious and uses it for its own evil, destructive purposes.  John MacArthur says this about hypocritical love.

 "The greatest sinner who ever lived  because of the profound depth of his hypocrisy was Judas. Hypocrisy is the most distasteful and ugly of all sins for it feigns affection and is filled with hate. No sin is worse than hypocrisy. No vice is more destructive than hypocrisy. And no virtue is more wonderful than love. So hypocritical love is an unbelievable combination of which the theologian John Murray says, "If love is the sum of virtue and hypocrisy is the epitome of vice, what a contradiction to bring the two together." Christians are commanded to live a pure, true, genuine love."

Here are some  examples of hypocritical love in Scripture...see the contradiction and betrayal wrought when hypocrisy and feigned love are brought together...

2 Samuel 20:9-10 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.  But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died.

Joab drew Amasa close feigning a brotherly kiss but instead he twisted a knife into his gut.  

Proverbs 26:25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart;
Psalm 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

People who flatter and deceive for their own gain whose motives are deadly.


Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

They speak the right words but their hearts are not loyal and are far from you.

Matthew 26:47-49 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

Diabolical....


Love
Mom

A Discourse on Cranial Functions - Are You My Mummy?

 By My daughter Anna...

2nd Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 

I used to be deathly afraid of human skulls. (No, seriously.)

I don’t know when it started, but for the longest time—no, hang on a minute, I’m still a little leery of them—I was petrified. I couldn’t watch all of “Return of the King” because... of that scene where the Dead are, you know, alive. There were a ton of skulls in that—whole mountains—and there’s me, hiding in the dining room and knowing I wouldn’t sleep that night. (And, of course, Rebecca loved the movie, and would insist upon watching every single scene. Go figure.) 

And then—this was recent—I was finally starting to watch The Mummy movies (you know, the dead people, not mothers) and Rebecca agreed to warn me whenever there were mummies (dead dead or undead, didn’t matter which). Now, I’m hidden in the dining room again, and she calls out reassuringly “it’s okay Anna, there’s no mummies in this scene.”

Being the trusting, naïve fool that I usually am, I believe her.  Guess what? I managed to be right on time for the entrance of an ARMY—not kidding, a literal army—of mummies marching across the screen. (Use your imagination for the scene that followed between me and my apparently blind sister.) 

Rebecca protests her innocence, and I’ve given her the benefit of the doubt, but still…

Anyway, this was the only verse that helped me whenever I couldn’t sleep. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

God doesn’t try to control us through fear. He most certainly could, being the God of the Universe and ALSO having the unique advantage of creating us, and thereby knowing our inmost beings—and all our inmost fears—so if He wanted to, He could very well do so. Fear of the future, fear of the past, fear of losing loved ones, fear of death, fear of betrayal, fear for your health, fear for your finances, fear of heights, fear of water, fear of bugs, fear of the little old lady next door…He knows them all. He created us. If He wanted to be head honcho—figuratively speaking, He’s already the headest honcho there is—there’s a million billion ways He could be and not have any resistance whatsoever. That’s one of the reasons I love Him. Because He doesn’t threaten us. He doesn’t control us through our fears. He’s the God of the Universe, but He’s my Father. And—as any child who’s lucky enough to have a good father knows—fathers don’t threaten their children with the monsters under their bed or in their closet. They chase them away. They shine the flashlight on them and poof! Gone. Disintegrated. Atomized. Blown into smithereens. Killed dead. (Take your pick. I always went for disintegrated.)

That’s what God does. He shines the Light of Truth on all His children’s fears, if you ask Him to, and—guess what?—(yes, the sound effect is necessary)…poof!

He hears your cry for Him in the middle of the night, and He comes. He always comes, and He always chases the monsters away. He hears you when you want a drink, and He gives you the Water that forever satisfies. He hears you when you’re hungry, and He gives His children the Bread of Life.

Because that’s what God is. He’s Power and Love. He gives His children a sound mind when they’re half-crazy with the after-effects of a ‘nightmare’. He removes the spirit of fear. That’s what He does, and that’s what He is.

Always and forever.
Even with skulls.

GOD DESIRES YOU....1 Peter 1:20

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you  who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.--1 Peter 1:17-20

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

This passage both comforts me and strengthens my faith.  God's plan of sending His Son into the world to die for our sins was NOT set into motion because the world somehow spun out of our God's control.  Nope.  Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.  God knows all things and in His foreknowledge He knew that man, when He created him, would fail and make the wrong choices. He knew that the price of our redemption would be the shed blood of His Son on a cross.  And yet, God created us...you and me...to have a meaningful, intimate relationship with Him anyway.  That is and has always been His desire.  Wow!!  Despite the cost!! That should stop you in your tracks and drop you down to your knees in worship.  God desires a relationship with you!  With me!

God  gave man the capacity to choose because without choice man becomes a robot.  How much fun is it to have a relationship with a robot.  It will obey you...but..you know...it has to.   Think on the meaningful relationships in your lives.  How much depth is there because you know they want to be with you...it is their desire to know you and spend time with you. You cannot have this kind of relationship with a robot....in fact, you really can't have a relationship with a robot at all.

Our relationships in this world are shadows of the relationship our God wants to have with us.  I loved my Grandmother with all my heart.  I had a significant relationship with her.  I remember waiting in front of the living room window as a child looking down the street waiting to see my "Nana" become a speck on the horizon.  When she appeared...there was such joy in my heart.  Why...because I knew she was coming...walking from her house a few miles away to be with me...to spend time with me....because she loved me.   God wants to have that kind of relationship with us.  He wants us to want to spend time with Him.  He wants nothing from us that reeks of obligation.  He wants our hearts desire to be for Him.  He wants our obedience to Him to be freely given not compelled. 

My grandmother had the choice to love me or not.  She had the choice to forge the relationship or not. She did not come and see me because she had to...she came to see me because she wanted to.  I carry that with me always.  I was important to her.  My relationship with my God is the same way...I sit with Him and His word in the morning...I wait for His direction and guidance.  I look to Him in everything and trust Him with my very life.  He died for me when I was still a sinner...I can trust Him to see me through my journey here on earth.  Here is what it says in Romans 8.


What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  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?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword--Romans 8:31-35


We are so important to God that He redeemed us with the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. You can choose to love God or hate God.  Some even choose to pretend to love Him...but that also involves a choice.  He is waiting for you to choose...His desire is for you to be in fellowship with Him now and for all eternity. Your choice.

Love
Mom



Ephesians 1: 3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace  which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Thinking Highly of Yourself...

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

I have got lots of self-esteem...it is humility I need.  This is the heart attitude that one has that is totally given over to God as a living sacrifice.  It makes sense...If I have given everything I have over to God than I have nothing left of me.  I have abandoned all of "me" for Him.  I so need to be reminded that whatever gifts I have are gifts from Him to be used to honor and glorify Him...I cannot take credit for them.   Certainly, we should recognize the gifts that God has given us, exercise them in faith but then move on.  Don't think much on them...just do what the Lord has called you to do.  There is nothing in the bible to encourage a superiority complex. We are here as His servants...our gifts are to be used for His glory not for our own. I love where Paul says to be sober about our gifts...not to think arrogantly or vainly about them but to think "sanely" about them...or be in your right mind thinking on them.  Hahah...no delusional thinking allowed.

1 Corinthians 4:7 says:  "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? "

Don't overvalue or undervalue yourself. Listen to what Paul says about Himself in 1 Corinthians 15:10:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

We should also not be envious of the gifts God has blessed others with.  We are all members of the same body and each person is uniquely made in the image of God, gifted and created specifically for the works that God prepared for him to walk in. That is such a beautiful way for us to see it. Each one of us is important to the Lord...for there is no partiality with God. 

Whatever gift we have, our Lord has measured it to us.  In fact what do we have that we have not been given.  It is all from Him. .Our life then is a stewardship.  Do you see how important it is to give yourself totally to Him.  Never concern yourself with all the extraneous details in life...the most important thing...the most needful thing you can do to have all the fullness that Colossians says is in Him, is commit yourself to Him: soul, body, mind and will...to live out Romans 12:1-2. Everything else is detail...His job.  Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all else will be added.  He's given you a gift to use for His glory to advance His Kingdom.  You will not see all that God can do with that gift unless you become a living sacrifice.  Present yourself to Him.  He will use it...It is His gift...He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think.

 
Be content with what the Lord has for you as a member of His body. Be faithful to do it.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.


1Peter 4:11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Love
Mom

Anxiety and Worry

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; --1Peter 1:13


 Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I love this verse...it is so helpful for me when my thoughts become anxious to picture what Peter was conveying  here. Gird up the loins of your mind...WHAT???   Long robes were worn by men in the days that 1 Peter was written.  Now you really can't get anywhere fast with a long robe.  Your legs just cannot stretch as far as you would like them, to get up any speed at all and the prospect of tripping increases dramatically.  The picture is of a robed man tucking his skirt under his belt so he could run.  What it means in terms of your mind is to simply pull your thoughts together.  Pull up the loose ends of your thinking and recenter them on what is important.  Christ. Discipline your mind and return your focus to the right place.  The hope that is ours in Him. Be sober.  Think on the right things and rest your hope fully on the promises in His Word. We as believers, girls, live in the present and act in the present based on the future hope we have in Him. We live in the expectation of His return.  The verse that comes to mind here is  Hebrews 12:1-2. 


"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Put aside every weight...all those things that encumber and take our focus off our Lord and His power, sovereignty, mercy and grace..and on to those things that are of the world and unimportant in the light of His return.  There is such simplicity in being a follower of Jesus and walking the path that He  has laid out for us.  When we gird up the loins of our minds, lay aside the weights and look up, the things of this world truly do fade away.  His glory and His grace remain and our focus once again is in proper perspective.  Our actions and decisions are again governed by our future Hope.

Read about Abraham in Hebrews 11:8-16.  He exemplified living in the light of a future hope so well.  Abraham's eyes looked to the heavenly city and all his decisions were made in light of the promises God had given him.

Thinking soberly is thinking calmly...it is being self-controlled.  It is not letting thoughts that are not helpful get the best of you.  By God's grace, I do not suffer from anxiety much, but when I do I hate it!! Worry is really the opposite of girding up the loins or loose ends of your mind.  I picture a Dr. Seuss character with all kinds of strings flowing from his head and as he moves about they get longer as his worry increases.  Eventually they get caught on things and he is pulled in different directions and eventually pulled apart. 

The only antidote for worry is to immerse yourself in the word of God.  Our flesh in the midst of difficulty tends toward carnality.  We give up and give in and in our hearts we say, "Oh, what's the use."  Resist the temptations of your flesh and choose instead in the midst of your difficulty to think rightly...to renew your mind with His word.   When you find yourself having anxious thoughts...the opposite of really thinking...having thoughts that just go round and round...find a verse or two and recite it and as you recite it, meditate on it.  It may take time to combat, but God's word will have its effect.  It will guard your mind and His peace will begin to fill it.  There is nothing like it...nothing. It will bring you into His presence and even in your darkest times fill you with His joy and His assurance.

Colossians 3:2-4  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


Love
Mom

Presenting Our Will...Romans 12:2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.--Romans 12:1-2


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


Here we are at the last offering.  What are we to offer to God...our wills.  This "will" not take long and in explaining I will review the others....cause I should have said something in the very first study that I did not say. 

Before we give our bodies, or our minds or our wills to God we must give Him our soul. Nothing else can be offered to God if the soul hasn't been offered first.   Giving God your soul occurs at the moment of sincere belief/repentance...the moment of conversion    An unsaved person cannot give God his body for service, cannot give God his mind, and cannot give God his will.  In fact, He cannot respond to God at all.  1 Corinthians 2 says, that the natural man can't even understand the things of God. They're utter foolishness.  Dedication of the body, mind and will to God does not occur unless spiritual rebirth has occurred first.Whatever an unregenerate man offers God will not please God because without faith, the bible says, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

With that said, finally, we are to present our will to God. Now because we have presented the soul, the body, and the mind to Him already this part comes...this part is the fruit.  Because we have saturated ourselves in His word and allowed it to transform us and control our thinking, we will approve or know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  God's will is in His word.   We will surrender our will and align it with His.  Why...because we delight in Him..we delight in His Word...we know that His will is good and perfect and acceptable.  You will say Lord...I want what You want. Nothing else matters...I want what You want for me...You know best.  Here is what John MacArthur says that I think sums it all up:

"A renewed mind will be expressed in a submissive will and in a body presented as a living sacrifice. It all comes in one package. You can't present your body unless you have a renewed mind because you won't have the will to do that."   

This is not something you do once but something you do moment by moment throughout your Christian walk...you surrender...because in surrender is victory.  You moment by moment take yourself off the throne of your heart and surrender the control to Him. This is done by the work of the Spirit in your heart using the Word of God.  As we renew our minds we begin to think the way God thinks as revealed to us in His word.  His word literally becomes a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths. We see that His will is not hard, but good and acceptable and perfect. 

Girls, allow the Lord to renew your minds...stay in His word.  As you abide in His word, God will renew your mind so you can walk in His will which will take sacrifice.  The payoff...being holy and acceptable to God.  No greater goal than that...none. 


Love
Mom

Hi Dad...I'm Home

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time--1 Peter 1:3-5

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

Wow!  Look at all God has done for us.  Look at the hope that is ours.  As I was reading this chapter early this morning I could not get past these verses.  Look at what He has done for us, His children.  He sent His Son to die for our sins.  He sent His Spirit by which we may be born again.  He has given us an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled and reserved for us in heaven.  Finally, He is keeping us by His power.  The verse that is coming to mind here is this one and I think it is perfect.

Psalm 57:2  I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me

What is left for us to do but say..."Hi Dad, I am home."  That is our job...we have to accept His gift, and make no mistake, it is a gift, and walk through the door.  He does the rest.   We just need to come.

Think also on the phrase "who are kept by the power of God."  Kept...is a military term meaning guarded or shielded and the tense of the verb reveals that we are constantly being guarded by God, assuring us that we shall safely arrive in heaven.  Girls...each one of you knows how special you are to me.  My heart wants to see each of you walk in truth without compromise. I can't hold your hand anymore and walk you through the difficult times but HE DOES AND HE NEVER LETS GO!   I can't keep you from making the wrong moves, but I do know that you are kept by the power of God. You are kept by His faithfulness. You are constantly guarded and my heart is filled with gratitude to Him because I KNOW you will arrive safely in heaven. Why?  Because He is committed to seeing you through til the end of your journey here.  All you need do is believe.

The last point I will make about this passage is that as I contemplated our living Hope that is Christ and His resurrection from the dead, I realized that when we walk through salvation's door eternal life begins. We do not have to wait til we get to heaven to see it that way.  He is reserving and watching our inheritance and He is keeping us by His power.  We are as good as there.  Be encouraged.  The battle was won at the cross. We fight from a position of victory. We truly are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 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.

Love
Mom

Surrounded with His Favor

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous: With favor You will surround him as with a shield.--Psalm 5:11-12

Dear Girls,

I read these verses this morning.  What comfort we have in our Lord.  He may deal with others in judgment but we who hope in Him can ever shout for joy because He defends us. He protects us.  He covers us. He is our refuge...strong and sure. We can be joyful in Him , because He blesses us and surrounds us with His favor like a shield.  We are bullet proof.  God has got our back!  He is on our side.  He is near...for in Him we live and move and have our beings.  There is nothing to fear or be anxious about...what can man do to us?  Maybe they can kill the body but when we awake...we awake in His likeness!  He knows we are weak and remembers that we are dust.  He has no illusions about us and yet He surrounds us with His favor like a shield.  We can depend on Him to make our way straight before His face. We can depend on His grace, goodness strength and mercy which is always with us for the journey that lies ahead...and when we  look to Him, we are radiant and our faces are not ashamed. 

Love
Mom

Read the verses below and extol His holy name!

Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." --Psalm 35:27


Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"  But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. --Psalm 40:16-17


Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit.  You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. --Isaiah 65:13-16



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." --1 Corinthians 2:9

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. --Psalm 23:6



And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. --Romans 8:28


After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"  Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! --Revelation 19:1-6

A Mind Dedicated to God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.--Romans 12:1-2

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

We have been looking at the three things Romans 12:1-2 says we are to offer to our God as our reasonable service.  The first, our bodies, we discussed in our previous study.  The second thing we are to dedicate to our Lord is our minds.  It is important to remember here, however, that they all go together.  Christ wants all of us...soul, body, mind and will.   For the sake of time we are looking at them separately.

Now I can laugh at this because I think why would anyone, especially God, want my mind. Seriously though...God does! He wants our minds set apart to Him and for Him. The world bombards us with different philosophies and stuff that grabs our emotions and bypasses rational thought. It attempts to program our minds in a certain way to conform us into its way of thinking...which really is not about thinking at all...truth is not desired in the world and neither is thinking. The world for the most part does not care if something is right as long as it works and makes them feel good. The word conform here means take on the outer appearance of something.  We do not want to look like the world. The Spirit of God lives inside us.  We want to be transformed into His image.  God wants to give us His wisdom and His mind.  He wants to teach us and reason with us.  He wants to renew our mind and fill it with His truth, His ways and His will.  2nd Corinthians 3:18 says:

"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."


Whether you like it or not, you are a product of your thinking.  The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart so is he.  How are you programming your mind to think?  What are you putting into it?  GIGO...garbage in...garbage out.  Word of God in....Word of God out.  Fill your mind with the world, and the world will be reflected in your life.  Fill your mind with the word of God, and the Spirit of God, who came to live inside you when you became a believer, will use it to transform you from the inside out.  You will shine for Him...Your inner man will be renewed daily into His truth and His way of thinking.  As you abide in Him your mind will become Spirit-controlled and you will speak psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around you.  Double-mindedness will decrease and spiritual stability will increase.  Your foundation will be strong, and as it says in Ephesians, you will stand!

Fallen, unsaved man's mind, the Bible says, is depraved, blind, futile, foolish, and ignorant.  I can give you the references if you need them.  Here is what John MacArthur says about the mind of fallen man:

"So depraved it does not choose what is good, so blind it does not know what is good, so useless it does not perform what is good, so ignorant it doesn't even know it's doing all of this and you're left with the only alternative...everything is foolish. That's the mind of man, fallen man"

My mind was all these things and more before coming to the Lord...despite my college degree...despite my good job.  My life was in shambles...John MacArthur's quote hits home.  Upon acceptance of the Lord, however, the one thing that told me something supernatural had occurred was that I felt like my mind had expanded exponentially. I saw things and understood things with different eyes.  Many, many of my beliefs changed at the moment Christ entered my heart and The Spirit of God moved into my thinking. My mind which was once depraved, blind, futile,  ignorant and foolish was now different. No, I did not have a new brain, but I did have a new way of thinking.  My mind now thought not on the fleshly level but on the Spiritual.  Romans 8:5 says this:  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."


1 Corinthians 1:30 says:


"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—"

What does Christ become for us....wisdom from God!  


Now look at 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.  These verses are amazing and would be a blessing to meditate on and memorize! 


"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.


These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."

Wait...what does it say in that last sentence...we have whose mind?  The mind of Christ!!


2nd Corinthians 10:3-5 " For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

We can bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...why...because we have His mind. We can strain all the stuff of the world out and allow the Spirit of God to show us what is true. 

This is the mind we dedicate to Him...We dedicate by giving it to Him and allowing Him to renew it by His Word. The world, as I stated before, throws so much stuff at us, girls, that our minds become cluttered and dirty.  Our minds need regular renewal with the truth of God...His word.  Spend time daily reading it, studying it, memorizing it and meditating on it. Allow God to transform your thinking...2nd Timothy 3:16-17 says:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."


Hebrews 4:12 says:


"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."



Dedicate your mind to Him by setting it upon the things above and not on the things of the earth. Dedicate your mind to Him by putting on the new man that is renewed in knowledge and let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly." That's how you dedicate and transform your mind. The renewed mind is saturated and controlled by the Word of God.
 

Love
Mom