EVERLASTING Consolation....

Good Morning! How beautifully unifying are these verses from Philippians! So grateful to our God who has provided us with EVERLASTING CONSOLATION in Him. As an aside, according to John MacArthur, the Greek word translated “comfort” portrays the Lord coming close and whispering words of gentle cheer or tender counsel in a believer’s ear.

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

On Reaching Genesis 37...

 I have reached Genesis 37 in my daily Bible readings.  For the next 13 chapters Joseph will be front and center.  I love this section of Scripture probably more than any other. I think we can all agree that it makes for a really great story...one of the very best in Scripture. But what I love most about Joseph’s story is that in it, I see Jesus in Joseph and in it  I see God’s hand in his life ruling and overruling all for His perfect purposes. Joseph’s story reminds me that God is also intimately involved in my own life working all together for my ultimate good and His glory.  It also reminds me that my God is completing that good work He began in me at salvation. All that comes my way, He uses to conform me into His image...to make me more like Him.

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

Beloved...Our God keeps His promises.  Like Joseph, you are God’s beloved.  The Lord your God is with you.  Trust Him. Be obedient...walk in His grace. Depend on Him to meet your every need and bring you safely home.  

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.—Psalm 17:15

For this is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide

Even to death.—Psalm 48:14

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2011/09/now-israel-loved-joseph-more-than-all.html

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2011/09/and-he-returned-to-his-brothers-and.html

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2011/09/joseph-type-of-christ.html

The Terror of God...

And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.—Genesis 35:5

Aaah...the terror of God upon those who do not seek our good.  I like that...a lot. John MacArthur describes it as 

A supernaturally induced fear of Israel that rendered the surrounding city-states unwilling and powerless to intervene and made Jacob’s fear of their retaliation rather inconsequential

Beloved...I don’t know about you, but I needed this reminder today.  He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Our God is a protector and a preserver of all who place their trust in Him. He goes before us.  He hedges us behind and before and lays His hand upon us. This said, same terror that went before Israel as they journeyed to Canaan, goes before each of us as we walk in His will and depend on Him to meet all our needs.  As someone (I don’t know who) has said, “if we fear God, we need not fear anything else”.   

Fear and dread will fall on them;

By the greatness of Your arm

They will be as still as a stone,

Till Your people pass over, O LORD,

Till the people pass over

Whom You have purchased.—Exodus 15:16

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.—Psalm 121

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

A refuge in times of trouble.

10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.—Psalm 9:9-10

Love Never Fails...

 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:  how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?”  And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered.  So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.  But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood.  Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.--Luke 6:1-11

Beloved Believer...

Jesus gets to the heart of the issue in this verse.

Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”

What is the heart of the issue.  The heart is that it is NEVER okay to put laws, traditions and regulations ahead of human need.  The law of love is the key here. Romans 13:8 says this:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

If we are owing no one God has placed in our lives anything but love, then we are fulfilling the law.  Romans 13 continues:


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. 


Did you get that last part?  Love does no harm to a neighbor...if you are loving the people in your life with the love that God has shed abroad in your heart then you will always be fulfilling the law.  Love is the perfect bond of perfection.  Love is an adhesive!  It is the bond of unity.  Love encompasses all of God's commands concerning human relationships.  If we truly love our neighbor...and our neighbor is the person whom God has placed in our line of sight at the moment...we will consider his needs as we consider our own. We will care for him as we care for ourselves and we will only do what is in his best interests. Do you see the enormity of what God requires...none of us can fulfill the law...we can't even come close to loving others this way unless the Spirit of God does the work. 

Examine your own life through this lens...remember love in each and every situation and circumstance. Truly,  love never fails.  

Jacobs prayer...❤️ Genesis 32

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”—Genesis 32:9-12

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:16

I love this prayer of Jacob.  

I love that it occurred when he was weak in faith.  

I love that it came from a heart desperate for deliverance.  

I love that Jacob prayed God’s promises to him.  

I love that Jacob confessed his own anxiety and fear...

I love that he knew he was not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.

I love ESPECIALLY that Jacob knew what God had promised but, LIKE ME, his heart had not quite caught up with what his mind understood and believed. 

Lord, Help my unbelief!  Unite my heart to fear Your name! 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30

On Being Kind...

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”—Matthew 10:42

❤️Jesus sees acts of kindness done to his followers as having been done to him.❤️

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'—Matthew 25:37-40

For God [is] not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, [in that] you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.—Hebrews 6:10

[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;—Romans 12:10

Father...

Give me eyes ALWAYS to see Your Son, Jesus, in everyone I meet. Give me a sincere heart that loves and serves the people You have lovingly placed in my life as if I was serving You!  May I do all I do here on this earth as unto You and not unto man.  Thank you, Father, that I can freely give without concern for me, because You CARE for me...Your steadfast love and kindness toward me never ceases.  Thank you that You see all that I do and will not forget the work and labor of love that I have shown toward Your name. No good thing done for Your glory will go unrewarded.  Oh how blessed is the man who places his trust in You. 

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.—Psalm 86:11

God Keeps His Promises...

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”—Genesis 28:16-17

Today’s reading from Genesis was a good reminder for me and an encouragement to my heart, especially as our country seems to be entering uncharted territory and facing much political and civil unrest.  

Here, for the very first time, God reveals Himself to Jacob and reaffirms with Jacob His covenant with Abraham. 

Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.—Genesis 28:10-14

I loved Jacob’s response upon awakening. 

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”—Genesis 28:16-17

God is with us wherever we go.  He is intimately involved in the lives of each of His children and in the affairs of this earth, especially as they relate to His divine promises.  AND all of His promises are yes and amen in His Son.  

Beloved, God is our dwelling place. He is our strong habitation to which we may continually resort.   In Him...in Christ...we live and move and have our being. No matter where we find ourselves in this world or whatever we might be facing, we can be confident that our God will be with us, will care for us and will bring us safely home when our time on earth is done.  Each of us can awake each morning and say with Jacob:

Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 

Be of Good Cheer, Daughter...

 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.—Matthew 9:20-22

Oh Father!  I believe!  Help my unbelief!  I am never a fool when I put my trust in You. Oh help me to trust You to the uttermost.  Help me not to fret in the trials you allow in my life, but to know that Your unfailing love will be with me and will never fail me through each and every one. You are the same yesterday, today and forever.  What You did for me yesterday in my fear and in my need, You can do again today.  My times ARE in Your hands. 

Oh Lord to whom shall I go? You and You alone have the words to eternal life. “My flesh and my heart fail, but You are the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever”.  I can never ask from You “too” much...I can never expect “too” much.  You are the God who says, “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it”. 

“The larger your expectations of God, the better, for according to your faith it will done unto you.”—Spurgeon

The Lord is my Keeper.  He is my shade at my right hand.  He will preserve my soul.  Ending with portions of Psalm 84: 

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,

Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca,

They make it a spring;

The rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;

Each one appears before God in Zion.—Ps 84:5-7

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

Blessed is the man who trusts in You!—Ps 84:11-12

The Faithfulness of Our God...

 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.—Genesis 24:6-7

Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.—Genesis 24:37-40

And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”—Genesis 24:48-49

The faithfulness of our God is what hit me again and again as I read through Genesis Chapter 24.  Beloved, we are God’s servants.  We are to trust Him. We are not to lean on our own understanding, but are to acknowledge Him in all our ways. He SHALL, as He did for Abraham’s servant, direct our path.  Look not to the right or to the left, dear one, but straight to your God. He will deal kindly with you and lead You in the way of truth.  Trust Him...rejoicing as you go.

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.—Psalm 1:1-3

Trust and Obey...

 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." 11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away.—Genesis 21:9-14

There is much in Chapter 21 of Genesis from which to glean. What hit my heart this morning first and foremost was how utterly heartbreaking it must have been for Abraham to send his son Ishmael away.  The word used in verse 11 of the KJV is “grievous”.  The word translated “grievous” means to shake violently...to quiver or tremble.  Abraham was not only displeased (the word that the NKJV uses) but was also deeply distressed...and yet..Abraham obeyed God.  The Lord follows up in verse 13 by reaffirming His promise to Abraham with regard to Ishmael. 

Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."—Genesis 21:13

Verse 14 tells us Abraham believed God and obeyed...despite his feelings...despite what he may have wanted. 

So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.—Genesis 21:14

I couldn’t help but think how trusting Hagar and Ishmael to His God must have prepared Abraham for the even greater test of his faith in Genesis 22, when God asks him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.  Again, Abraham obeyed believing God.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.—Hebrews 11:17-19

Beloved, God keeps His promises. Our God’s rules and overrules all in this world to accomplish His sovereign purposes. He speaks and it is done. He commands and it stands fast. His counsel stands forever and the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  

Be faithful...trust His word and obey. None of us is sufficient for anything that God calls us to do...But God is.  He will give you the power you need to do what He wants you to do when you need it. His grace is sufficient.  He will fulfill all your purpose. You can be confident that He will complete the good work He began in you until the day of Jesus Christ. 

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?—Romans 8:31-32

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah—Psalm 46:10-11

Faith over Fear..

 And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.—Genesis 20:11

The fear of man brings a snare, but those who trust in the Lord shall be safe.  

Abraham arrives in Gerar and begins to be afraid. Instead of trusting God with the situation he finds himself in, he allows fear to rule and decides to deceive Abimelech.  His eyes are not on God but on his circumstances.  Abraham tries to control the narrative so he can be seen in the best light by those in authority and perhaps preserve his life.  

Fear is the opposite of faith.  Fear produces chaos in our hearts and in our lives. Faith produces peace which is a fruit of the Spirit.  Sometimes, we, like Abraham, forget who God is.  Our faith falters and we sink in the mire of doubt, fear and even unbelief.  

Beloved...Our God is mighty...His works are wonderful. His arm is not short and there is nothing too hard for Him.  We, who believe, stand in grace...in God’s permanent,  unmerited, divine favor.  Our sure and certain destiny is that we will share in the very glory of God. Trust Him.  He will work in every situation you face for your good and His glory.  He is sovereign and no one and nothing can separate you from His love. 

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear,—Psalm 46:1-2a

Psalms 18

God the Sovereign Savior

(2 Sam. 22:1–51)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,

And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;

The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,

Because He was angry.

8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth;

Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

He flew upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His secret place;

His canopy around Him was dark waters

And thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness before Him,

His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice,

Hailstones and coals of fire.

14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,

Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered

At Your rebuke, O LORD,

At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me,

For they were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the LORD was my support.

19 He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;

According to the cleanness of my hands

He has recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,

And have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all His judgments were before me,

And I did not put away His statutes from me.

23 I was also blameless before Him,

And I kept myself from my iniquity.

24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,

According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;

With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;

26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;

And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

27 For You will save the humble people,

But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;

The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the LORD is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to make war,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your right hand has held me up,

Your gentleness has made me great.

36 You enlarged my path under me,

So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;

Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.

38 I have wounded them,

So that they could not rise;

They have fallen under my feet.

39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;

You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,

So that I destroyed those who hated me.

41 They cried out, but there was none to save;

Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.

42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;

I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;

You have made me the head of the nations;

A people I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;

The foreigners submit to me.

45 The foreigners fade away,

And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The LORD lives!

Blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God who avenges me,

And subdues the peoples under me;

48 He delivers me from my enemies.

You also lift me up above those who rise against me;

You have delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,

And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,

And shows mercy to His anointed,

To David and his descendants forevermore.