Love that Transforms -- Love that Perfects

"God loves you, and there is nothing you can do about it."

I used to hear this phrase a lot. The same man who shared this every week in a meeting, though, did not seem to manifest this love fully in his life. The more that I thought about how much God loved me, the more burdened I felt, because this same God who loved me so much must have been unhappy with  me, since I was still sinning.

Then I looked again at the First Epistle of John:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

The same love that sent Jesus to die for our sins (1 John 4: 10), is the same love that gives us everlasting life (John 3: 16) and righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

The love of God does not  just cleanse us from sin, but this love transforms us from dead in our trespasses to everlasting life in which we reign:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)

This love makes us "Accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1: 3)

For this post, I owe a heartfelt thanks to brother Bob George of "People to People" Ministries. "Love means absolutely nothing without acceptance." This revelation transformed my mind (Romans 12:2) to better appreciate God's love for me.

Because of God's great love for us, we have been perfected in our spirit man (Hebrews 10: 13), and thus we have boldness, because God the Father sees us, and He sees His own Son! Now that's a perfect love!

Wisdom is a Person -- and He Has You

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4: 7)

This verse is part of the Old Testament, an element of the Old Covenant

Let us read this verse in light of the New Covenant:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

Christ is our wisdom! This is His firs qualification in the life of the believer, according to Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.

So, wisdom is from Jesus, is Jesus Christ, who lives in us (Colossians 1: 27).

But what about understanding? Jesus gives us this, too:

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5: 20)

What is understanding all about? Knowing Him more:

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24: 25-27)

and

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)

Wisdom is a person, and He lives in you. Just ask Him, and He will guide you by His Holy Spirit into all knowledge (John 16: 13)

You Know the Way, and the Outcome

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." (Mark 4: 35)

Jesus told the disciples ahead of time that they were going to pass over.

A storm intervened, and the disciples got scared, but Jesus was sleeping soundly:

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4: 38)

Jesus wants us to rest in His Word, trusting that He is going to lead us through whatever storm we may be facing:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)

God is interested in bringing every problem under our feet:

"And [God] hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

"Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 22-23)

We are seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2: 6)

We are not called to do more, but to believe more about all that God has done for us:

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power," (Ephesians 1: 17-19)

Jesus is the Way (John 14: 6). He lives in us, He leads us by His Spirit. Let us trust Him to take us through all the way:

"For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1: 5-6)

and

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 10)

He made you and the works that you are called to do -- walk confidently, knowing that He is leading you through it all!

Believe that He is Taking Care of it

We want our problems to be taken care of. We want to know and believe that all our needs are taken care of.

Paul did not mince words about the one who is taking care of us:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)

Our needs are met in Christ:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

'He that spared not 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)

Since God the Father has taken care of our sins - transgression, penalty, and record -- where then do we get the idea that He will not move in our lives when we have any other need?

Without the life that Jesus gives us, there is no point to receiving anything:

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16: 26)

When we have prospered in our soul (3 John 2), behold we begin to prosper on the outside.

We prosper when we rest and believe that God the Father is taking care of us:

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6: 26)

and

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6: 30)

Jesus is talking about the life in which we do not stress or worry about anything. He quickens us to will and to do for His good pleasure, but He is calling not to live in strife and unbelief:

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

"(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. " (Matthew 6: 32-33)

He is on the job. Our job is to rest in Him and let His grace work in our lives (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

Anything Not Done in Faith is Sin

Faith is the operating, guiding light of a believer in Jesus Christ.

"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)

We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Jesus even comforts us not be of doubtful mind (Luke 12:29)

So, how do we effect living by faith?

We believe, we affirm his blessed promises in us, which are in His word!

Every believer is called to live by the faith of the Son of God (cf Galatians 2:20)

When faced with any new situation, the Holy Spirit leads, and His peace operates as judge, an umpire helping us determine the proper course of action:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

Here, Paul uses for "rule" the word βραβεύω, brabeúō, which means to rule, arbitrate, or "act as an umpire".

This peace of God enables a believer to know with utmost simplicity if he or she is living in the will of God.

Anything that jars this peace, anything that causes doubts to arise in the heart of a believer, is to be discharged or dismissed immediately.

Indeed, may the peace of God rule in the heart of every believer.

His Kingdom is Everywhere -- Through His Spirit

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28)

The Holy Spirit indeed was released to the entire world (Acts 2:17), and by God's grace, the Holy Spirit can enter into man to quicken him from death in his trespasses (Ephesians 2: 1-4).

Thus we enter the Kingdom of God:


"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. "(Romans 14: 17)
Yet this Kingdom by no means is limited to ourselves, although certainly the Holy Spirit pours forth from us:

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

"(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7: 38-39)

God is not limited, however:

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." (Acts 17: 28)

The same Jesus Christ who lives in us is the same Jesus Christ who holds the entire universe together:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 16-17)

Yet for the believer, He is more than Creator:

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

'For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 18-20)

Let us not limit our awareness of the Kingdom of God to ourselves. Let us pray that God will open our understanding (Ephesians 1: 17-19) to see all that He is, and that He is for us!

Jesus: The Gift Who Never Stops Giving

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John m3: 16)

At Christmas time, we exchange gifts, commemorating the greatest gift that has ever been given to us: God's own Son, Jesus.

Sadly, too many believers in the Body of Christ have stopped open their Gift after they confession their faith in Christ and His Finished Work.

Even worse, many believers do not see the gift as total and free, yet feel compelled to earn or maintain through their own efforts the gift which has been given them.

It is time for believers to stop falling for the folly of this mixed message

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17) Paul presses on his readers that this is a "free gift" (Romans 5: 18), a gift which we are called to keep receiving! Believers think that salvation is all there is. Paul declared that there is so much more:

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 32)

and

"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

"Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

"And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. " (1 Corinthians 3: 21-23)

Do not limit the blessings which God has so richly lavished on you through His Son.

Keep asking, keep receiving, and keep rejoicing in that God through Christ is giving to you!

Because He Lives, I Live

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14: 19)

Because Jesus lives, we live also.

He is seated at the right hand of the father, and so are we with Him (1 John 4: 17)

One of my favorite hymns, "Because He lives" states in its refrain: "I can face tomorrow."

We can rest because Jesus has our tomorrows all taken care, for with God times is no factor:

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)

He is our life, and the life that we live, we live because of His faith that lives in us (Galatians 2: 20)

As He Is -- Because He Is, Therefore So Are We

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 16-17)

There is a world outside of us, and the universe outside of us expands at a rate beyond our comprehension.

We speak a language that we did not create (Genesis 11: 9). We live in homes we did not build. We live in cities we did not establish.

There is quite a lot in our lives which declare that we did not make ourselves (Psalm 100: 3), and that we are not the final arbiters of life on earth (Hebrews 9: 27):

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. " (Hebrews 11: 3)

The same God that made the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1: 1) made you and me who were born into this world through man and woman (Genesis 1: 26-27).

This same God sent His Son, the by whom all things are made to die for us, to give us His life:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

and

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again." (John 10:17)

and then

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Because of His love for us, not only do we live,  but we live through Him and as Him.

Yet more basically, we are because He is:

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14: 19)

As Christ is -- since He exists, which we know because we exist now in this world, because in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17: 28), since everything that we have is given to us, we can know and believe that "so are we in this world."

---

Know that You are Walking Closer

"Just a closer with with Thee

"Grant it, Jesus,if you please

"Daily walking close to Thee

"Let it be, dear Lord, let it be."

We are not just walking with God, we are in Him, and He is in us!

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Ephesians 5: 1-2)

We have to be "dear children" in order to walk in love.

We became children of God through the Spirit:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.   "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:   "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 15-17)   and   "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)   Because we have been trasnformed into the Kingdom of His Son by the Spirit (Colossians 1: 13), we cannot help but walk with Him, for we are in Him:   "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 3)   He also lives in us (Colossians 1: 27)   Therefore, this notion that we have to endeavor to walk with Jesus is based on a mistaken premise altogether.   Ever believer is a child of light (1 Thessalonians 5:5), and Christ Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8: 12), and as believers we are waking in the Light (1 John 1: 7).   Do not ask to walk closer, but rejoice that nothing can separate you from God in your walk with Him.

God Has Changed Our Heart -- Change Your Mind

"Change my heart, O God

"Make it ever true

Change  my heart, O God

May I be like You"

This song is singing for something that in Christ we already have. . .

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36: 26)

This is confirmed for us by the Holy Spirit living in us:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)

God has indeed made us like His Son:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Instead of asking for a  heart change, let us pray that God will renew our minds to the truth of who we are in Him:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
(Romans 12: 2)

and

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" (Ephesians 4: 23)

God has changed your heart -- ask Him to change your mind, that you may know the Truth that makes you free (John 8: 31-32).

Don't Hang Out -- But Get Out -- of Doubt!

"And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind." (Luke 12: 29)

"And ye -- seek not what ye may eat, or what ye may drink, and be not in suspense," (Young's Literal Translation)

Jesus encouraged His hearers then, and His believers now, not to live in doubt.

Why not? Paul answers:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not 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)

When John the Baptist had doubts about Jesus the Messiah, he sought Him out:

"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

"And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:" (Matthew 11: 2-4)

Jesus pointed John's disciples to His works. Then He said:

"The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. " (Matthew 11: 5-6)

Matthew 11: is a quote from the Old Testament:

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

"Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35: 5-6)

Luke is more explicit about what Jesus did:

"When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

"And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight." (Luke 7: 20-21)

Jesus demonstrated His healing power right on the spot for John's disciples. Yet in both accounts, Jesus combined His Work with His Word.

 We have the testimony of His greatest Work: His Death on the Cross (John 19: 30), and the Word speaks of Himself (John 5: 39).

We do not have to hang out it doubt, because Jesus hung on the Cross for us. Get into His Word, and get the doubt out!

God is Pleasant to Us, Even if We are Bitter Toward Him

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)

Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi blamed the Lord for her misfortunes:

"And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

"I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" (Ruth 1: 20-21)

In truth, it was Naomi, with her husband Elimelech, who forgot who they were and left Bethlehem (the House of Bread) during times of famine.

From the second chapter through the entire book of Ruth, Naomi guides her faithful gentile daughter-in-law, who made the Lord her God, and Ruth comes to rest in His provision through Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer and picture of our Lord Jesus Christ

In the end, the ladies of the town declare to Naomi:

"Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

"And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him." (Ruth 4: 14-15)

Indeed, Naomi's life was restored to her:

"And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it." (Ruth 4: 16)

Normally, an elderly woman no longer can nurse a child, but God, who calls those things that are not as though they are (Romans 4: 17), renewed Naomi's youth (Psalm 103: 5) so that she could nurse a child whom she never thought to have:

"That you may nurse, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (Isaiah 66: 11)

And the etymology of "nurse" is the same word for faith! (http://concordances.org/hebrew/539.htm)

Even if we are bitter towards God in our heads for times past, God does not stop loving us. Our one work is to believe on Him (John 6: 29), for we should never judge God's love based on our circumstances:

"Herein 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)

Naomi may have been bitter, but by God's grace, which she received by faith, God made things all better for her.

The Word Renews Our Mind, and Our Emotions

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)

God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers (3 John 2).

Our soul is made up of our mind, will, and emotions, and our emotions merely respond to what is in our minds.

Yet we have the mind of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 2: 16), and therefore be resting in this truth, we can receive the emotions that come from having His mind: love, joy, peace:

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8: 6-7)

The Spirit of God bears forth love, joy, peace, and the other fruit (Galatians 5: 22-23)

So, in order for our thinking, God's will, and His emotions to prosper in us, let us brings all thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

This is not our obedience, but rather His obedience, which entails the following:

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 7-11)

Jesus humbled Himself to take on our sin and shame and lack, He died for all our sin, and now he sits in glory at the right hand of the Father, where he justifies us and intercedes on our behalf."

He is ever working on our behalf, so that whatever we may fear, whatever we may lack, whatever causes upset, we can rest in His Finished Working, knowing and believing that He is taking care of us and all things with Him.

We are called to grow from faith to faith (Romans 1: 17), taking in what we learn about Jesus in the Word of God, and thus we are transformed:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

The Spirit of the Lord makes us spiritually minded, and thus our emotions are transformed by the fruit of the Spirit!

You Cannot "Do" What God has Made You to "Be"

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

We cannot make ourselves righteous. That falls under the law:

"For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." (Romans 10: 5)

Yet by the law is the knowledge of sin:

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." (Romans 7: 7)

Yet in Christ, we have received the righteousness of the law:

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 4)

How do we walk in the Spirit? First, we rest in the knowledge that in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1).

We then receive Himself into us by His Holy Spirit, and we are quickened to live by His life:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3: 18)

God has done all of this of us through His Son, from whom we receive the Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33)

We cannot do what God has made us to be, because we do nothing apart from Him.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)

Since it is God's grace, something which we did not earn, that flows through us (1 Corinthians 15: 10), the best that we can do is rest in His faith:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

See The King and the Kingdom through His Word

When detecting stains and other invisible marks and realities, detectives will wear special dark glasses to see everything.

In the same way, believers in the Body of Christ must walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7), taking God at His Word when walking in the world

We live in this world, yet we are not of the world (John 17: 16)

Because we are sons of Light (1 Thessalonians 5: 5), we are called to walk in the light (Ephesians 5: 8; 1 John 1: 7), in His Kingdom.

By meditating on the Word of God, the eyes of our understanding are opened (Ephesians 1: 17-19), and we see the riches which God has given us, and we witness His power around us!

In the Word of God, see Christ, see who you are in Christ, and see who you are in this world:


"As He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Jesus -- Our Everything

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Jesus Christ is indeed the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

Yet the way some believers live, they act as if His power is good enough for salvation, but as for living on the earth, we are on our own.

Yet nothing could be further from the Truth (John 14: 6):

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

By His faith, we live (Galatians 2: 20)

Let us look again at the first two verses of Hebrews 12.

"Run with patience" -- this is not a race that we are trying to win, because in Christ we are already more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8: 37) and we are always triumphing in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14)

The "patience" has to do with laboring to enter the rest of complete provision and victory which is in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4: 11).

"Looking unto Jesus" -- we do not look at or get discourage about what's going on around us. We set our eyes on what is above (Colossians 3: 1-3), to Jesus in whom we are justified, protected from all condemnation, from whom we will receive all things (Romans 8: 31-32)
Do you know how great He is? Paul outlines Jesus's majesty for us. We have entered in to His Kingdom (Colossians 1: 13), we have redemption and forgiveness of sins in His blood (v. 14). He is the image of the invisible God (v. 15). He created all things and all powers(v. 16). He is the first and all things exist through Him (v. 17). He is the head of the Church, the Body of Christ (v. 18)

He made everything, He has everything in His control, and He cares for you!

See Jesus as your everything, and in Him everything you will receive!

He Draws out Your Righteousness

The righteousness that Jesus exhorts us to have, He gives to us as a gift (Romans 5: 17)

When it comes to manifesting this righteousness in our lives, though, that is also God's responsibility:

"And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."(Psalm 37: 6)

and

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward."  (Isaiah 58: 8)

Our job is to receive His righteousness (Romans 5: 17), to desire it and take it in (Matthew 6: 33)


Yet how do we as believers in Christ "do" this? The previous verses will shed light on this:

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37: 4-5)

and

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 58: 13-14)

We are to rest and trust in Him, leaning on His promises. We can take God at His Word, we can rest in all that He has done because He sent His Son to die for us on the Cross.

He gives us His righteousness, and by resting in Him He draws out the same to the world:

"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1: 11)

and

"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;" (Ephesians 5: 9)

Let God's Spirit bring out His righteousness in you.

Rest and Receive the Finished Work -- and Behold God's Glory

"And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

The first mention of "Finished" is in Genesis:

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2: 1)

God finished His work and He rested because the work was perfect, lacking nothing.

When Moses finished the Tabernacle, God visited and sanctified it with His presence:

"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." (Exodus 40: 33-34)

When Naomi counseled her daughter-in-law to rest, she indicated that Boaz, a picture of our Lord Jesus, would finished everything for her:

"Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. " (Ruth 3: 18)

God the Father wants us to rest in Him, for the rest that God gave to His people Israel is extended also to every believer in the Body of Christ. (Hebrews 4: 1-11)

God wants us to rest in Christ, by whose faith we live the life that He lives in us!

Seek His rule in your life, the righteousness that He gives to us as a gift (Matthew 6: 33; Romans 5: 17), and His glory and goodness will envelop and provide for every need (Philippians 4: 19)

Not Here or There, But Christ Within You Heals

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. " (Luke 17: 21)

Many people believe that they have to go to special healers, convinced that certain people have more access to God, or can tap into His power because they think, say, or do things that other people have done.

Yet the power that we need, the Kingdom of Heaven, is a gift which we can all receive:

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. "(Luke 12: 32)

Because we have the Spirit of God in us, we are now in the Kingdom of God:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

In Christ, we have received every blessing in our spirit man (Ephesians 1: 3), and by faith we access what God has so freely given  us:

"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 6)

We do not have to seek healing, because we have already received our healing through Christ, by whose stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2: 24)

So, we do not have to look for His power outside of us, but rest in the Truth that His power resides in us already! When we rest, He works in us and through us to heal our every hurt!

In Christ You are a King, so Sit Down

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1: 3)

Jesus is glorified, seated at the right hand of the Father.

In Christ, so are you, and that is how you are to live in this world, filled with the love of God (Ephesians 5: 8):

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" (Colossians 1: 9)

God the Father wants us to rest in our kingly-priesthood status (1 Peter 2: 9).

Jesus our high priest died for ours sins once and for all (Hebrews 10: 10). We can sit down, too!

And who is taking care of us and our enemies? God the Father, who loves us as much as He loves His Son (John 17: 23). Because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, David could declare:

"For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:" (Acts 2: 25-26)

"Rest in hope" is better translated "settle down thoroughly" as in a tent. We can rest, because our High Priest has taken care of everything.

But because we are seated in Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2: 6), we can also expect the following for us:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

"Until I make thy foes thy footstool." (Acts 2: 34-35)

God is making His enemies your footstool, so rest in who you are in Christ.

In Christ, you are a king -- so sit down!

Let the Sun of Righteousness Shine in You

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." (Malachi 4: 2)

Many times in Scripture, Jesus identifies Himself as "the Light of the World" (John 8: 12; 9: 5).

He was there in the beginning, the Light spoken forth into a dark and void world (Genesis 1: 3)

In the last prophet of the Old Testament, He is referred to as "the Sun of Righteousness."

Because of His death on the Cross, we have been made "the righteousness of God in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

In his light, His blood continues to cleanse us from all sin:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)

The first mention of "bright light", or "noon day" when the Sun is shining at its highest point, and its rays are expanded to its greatest extent, occurs when God tells Noah to build the Ark:

"A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it." (Genesis 6: 16)

Here, "window" is better translated as "noon" or "midday", and at midday, that is the time when Noah completed the ark. The ark is a picture of Jesus, who at midday, or the sixth hour, was judged for all our sins (Luke 23: 44)

It became dark over Jesus that the Light of His righteousness may shine on you.

Let the light of Jesus Christ shine in and through you, and His healing will light upon you and you will grow in grace and strength!

Labor to Enter the Rest, and God Labors Over the Rest

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)

Jesus Christ is our Rest:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28)

Literally, Jesus says "I will rest you." He is the Sabbath rest that the writer of Hebrews comments on:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4: 9-10)

We can rest because all the works to be done have been laid down for us:

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)

Jesus Himself declared that in Him all thins are Finished:

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. " (John 19: 30)

By His taking our place, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21). By His stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2: 24). By His poverty, we are made rich
(2 Corinthians 8: 9). Everything has been laid out for us.

We do not work for the things which He freely gives us (Romans 8: 31-32), for who are we to despise the riches of His grace, which has purged us from our sins (2 Peter 1: 9) and His blood keeps cleansing us (1 John 1: 7).

Jesus told us to make His reign in us the most important thing:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. " (Matthew 6: 33)

Let us labor to enter His Rest, and He will labor over the rest of our lives!

Rest in Christ Your Ark

"And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat." (Genesis 8: 4)

"17"is the number of "Victory", and "8" is the number of New Beginnings.

Noah -- whose name means "Rest", found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6: 8). The grace of God is always associated with rest, the rest that God gives to those who believe on Him and His Son whom He sent to die for our sins (John 6: 29)

The ark which bore Noah and his family through the flood is a picture of Jesus, in whom we have protection from God's holy wrath:

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Peter 3: 20-22)

The victory that we have in Christ Jesus is greater than being saved from the global floods:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)

We cannot be separate from Christ because He is in us (Colossians 1: 27) and we are hid in Him (Colossians 3: 3)

In fact, God sees us as one with His Son, that John could write:

"As He is, so are we in this world!" (1 John 4: 17)

The more that we rest in Christ our ark, the more that we rise above every difficulty and reign in life through His life! (Romans 5: 17)

Rest Hand on Animal -- Rest on Jesus' Word

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)

When I first read this verse, I did not what it meant to "stay" one's mind. I became convinced that it was up to me to "stay" my mind. So, I spent much of my days thinking about God, straining to keep my thoughts from wandering.

The life of the mind in inner turmoil is not worth living.

Later on, I did a word study on "stay", which is "samack" or "rest" in Hebrews.

One of the first times when the word "samack" is used refers to the time when an offerer rests his hand on the head of the animal that he is going to sacrifice.

"And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." (Leviticus1: 4)

This verse clearly connects how laying one's hand on the head of the sacrifice communicates that the animal is taking the sin of the offerer away. "Put" renders the word "samack", yet the more accurate translation reads "rest his hand". Our resting on Jesus is not something that we do, but rather something that we receive

The animal sacrifice is a picture of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross, the Finished Work which testifies of God's unconditional love for us. Jude writes that we are to keep ourselves in the love of God by believing on what he has done and praying in the Spirit (Jude 21).

The Devil's only trick left is to get us out of the rest which we receive through the Finished Work of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews tell us what to do:

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. " (Hebrews 4: 11)

Our one job is to believe on Him, rest in Him, whom God the Father sent (John 6: 29). That all our sins are forgiven, that is what we rest our minds on.

We Do Not Fear Because of God's Perfect Love

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41: 10)

When I struggled with fear, I would repeat this verse to myself, as if by saying this verse enough times, my fear would dissipate.

Yet the verse itself makes in plain -- we do not fear because Yahweh, the Creator and Covenant Maker, is our God.

Yet for me, the feelings did not go away, and I would get more panicked and upset the more that I tried to work the feelings away.

As with any verse in the Old Testament,  we must see these verses through the Finished Work of the Cross.

We know and believe that God is with us because He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who was also named Immanuel --God with us -- when His arrival was heralded by the Angel Gabriel to Mary:

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1: 23)

And because of Christ's Sacrifice at the Cross, we can know and believe that God loves us and is for us:

"Herein 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)

This love is perfected in us because it transforms us into sons of God:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

The greater our understanding of who we are in Christ because of God's love for us (1 John 3: 1), the more we will witness fear banished from our lives:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

We are strengthened because of Christ in us:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

He is our helper:

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13: 6)

In Christ, God does more than uphold us in righteousness, we are made the righteousness of God in His Son (2 Corinthians 5: 21) and He has seated us in Christ at His right hand! (Ephesians 2: 6)

When we rest in who we are in Christ because of His love,we do not fear!

Rest in Christ to Fight Your Enemies

"But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

"On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness." (Esther 9: 16-17)

Esther was selected by the Persian King Ahasuerus to replace his previous Queen, who had refused to be a public spectacle (Esther 1: 12).

Yet the Lord moved that Esther would not only be honored as Queen in the largest empire in the world at that time:

"And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti." (Esther 2: 17)

We have a greater honor in Christ, that God the Father loves us as much as His own Son (John 17: 23) and has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Him (Ephesians 1: 3)

Through her position, God secured protection for His people the Israelites, whom Haman the evil grand vizier wanted to wipe out:

"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4: 14)

When the Israelites were warned ahead of time that they were about to be wiped out by royal decree, they armed themselves, but they rested, then fought, then rest again in victory.

When we face enemies, challenges, circumstances in our lives, God wants us to rest in Him, for He has already given us victory over every enemy in our lives:

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2: 14)

and

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. " (Colossians 2: 13-15)

We share in this triumph, for we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2: 6)

When we do face these trials, God calls us to stand:

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6: 13)

The fight is over, we rest by faith in His Word that the battle is won, and by His Spirit we walk in His victory!

Ecclesiastes' Conclusion Concluded in Christ

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12: 13)

How do we fear God? By accepting that we have forgiveness of sins:

"But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." (Psalm 130: 4)

How have we received this forgiveness? Through Jesus Christ, His Son:

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 7)

To know that all our sins have been wiped out, purged altogether, inspires a  reverential fear -- awe -- for all that God has done for us.

Yet what about keeping His commandments? God has now placed His laws in us:

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

We receive God's guidance in us through His Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father (Acts 2: 33)which we receive because of Christ's death on the Cross:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)

The life that we know live is a life of faith, for the righteous live by faith (Galatians 3: 13), and the faith that lives in us is the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2: 20)

Therefore, "man's all" mentioned by Ecclesiastes is accomplished in us through Jesus Christ, in whom we are complete (Colossians 2: 10), in whom we have all the spiritual blessings which God wants us to have (Ephesians 1: 3), through whom we have life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10).

The Wicked Work -- The Righteous Rest

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
 
"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Isaiah 57: 20-21)

"No peace to the wicked. . ." It is interesting that unrest and wickedness are  so closely associated.

The writer of the book of Hebrews also outlines how not entering the rest laid out for us is wicked unbelief:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

How do we escape from the wickedness of unrest, then? Through Jesus:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28)

Jesus Christ is our rest, and through Him we get this rest because He is our peace:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

We are not justified through Christ, but we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

Christ is our peace:

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

Specifically, how did Christ accomplish this peace, breaking down the separation between us and God? Paul continues:

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"

Jesus not only died for all our sins (1 John 2: 2), but He also fulfilled the Law once and for all, ending its condemnation against us:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2: 13-14)

The wicked rest because they feel that they are under judgment -- but all the judgment has been exhausted at the Cross. Now that we have received Christ Jesus in us -- who is our life (Colossians 3: 4)

It is a gross, wickedness, therefore, to run around trying to finish the work which Christ has already "Finished!" (John 19: 30) Don't live like the wicked: Rest in your righteous standing before God the Father!

Not on the World, not on Yourself, but As He Is!

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

As He is, so are we in this world. . .

Many believers focus on the world. They see the lack, they see the hardships, they see the problems, just like the ten Timid Spies in Numbers 13, who gave an evil report. Not just because of the sheer size of their problems, but also in looking at themselves, they saw themselves as inadequate and unable to stand up to them:

"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Number 13: 33)

"We were in our own sight". . .they were looking at their skills, their prowess, everything that they had, and they found themselves wanting, as is inevitably the case:

"That no flesh should glory in his [God's] presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 29)

But then Paul tells us who we are -- in Christ, as He is:

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

"That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1: 30-31)

Returning to the Israelites before the Promised Land, there is a clear example of those chosen by God who look at the world and at themselves. But Caleb, one of the two True Spies, saw who God is, and how He is:

"If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

"Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not." (Number 14: 8-9)

Now we know that the Lord delights in us, because He as accepted us in His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1: 6), and He loves us as much as His own Son (John 17: 23).

"The LORD" -- the Covenant Name -- "is with us." Yet we have something greater than the Israelites then: we have Christ in us (Colossians 1: 27), and we stand before God as His own Son!

Rather than striking out or turning away from any challenges, let us rest in who we are in Him, let us fix our eyes on Him we sits at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3: 1-3), the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12: 2). As He is, the more that we see Him, then so are we -- strong, stable, and certain as our enemies are brought to our feet -- in this world, a world which He has overcome through His death and resurrection (John 16: 33).

Worry is a Work -- Rest in His Finished Work

"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matthew 6: 27)

There is no point to worrying. We worry because we think that we are called to take care of something, or anything.

Yet God gave us His own Son to die for our sins. Do we really think that anything else in our lives is a greater burden, or worth more to God, than His own Son?

This is why Peter told us to humble ourselves, that we may cast all our cares upon Him who cares for us (1 Peter 5: 6-7).

It takes great humility, seeing that we bring nothing, that Christ Jesus has done everything, and that we are called to enter into His sabbath rest:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

It is unbelief, that we refuse to see what God has already done, which manifests as we take it by faith, for faith is the substance of things unseen (Hebrews 11: 1)


Peter commended his readers that they believed on Him, though they did not see Him:

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" (1 Peter 1: 8)

Why do we rejoice? Because He loved us first (1 John 4: 19) at the Cross (1 John 4: 10), and through this love we are transformed from dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2: 1) to sons in Christ (1 John 4: 17).

Why worry, then, since every work has been finished for us:

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)

Let us take God at His Word, believe that He has everything set out for us, and receive by faith what He so freely gives!

Single on Earth --- Married to Christ

"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman." ( 1 Corinthians 7: 1)

The English does not do this verse justice. Paul wrote that is is "beautiful" for a man not to touch a woman, and the same can be said for a woman who chooses not to marry a man.

Why did Paul share this opinion and esteem the single life?:

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." (1 Corinthians 7: 8)

"Abide" is the key word. Jesus called for us to abide in Him:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)

We are first and foremost married to Christ, we are one with Him, and in Him we have our new identity.

Paul says that we have been betrothed:

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7: 4)

As a married person loses himself and becomes part of someone else, so we are one with Jesus:

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. " (John 17: 21)

But this is more than a mere marriage made in heaven. Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), and we are hid in Christ (Colossians 3: 3).

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and by His faith we live (Galatians 2: 20)

Whether we are single or married on earth, we are married to Christ in heaven, and in heaven we find our true, full, and final citizenship (Philippians 3: 20)

Remember Where You Now Live

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)

Men and women today take great pride in their national origin. Immigration status can create or undo a man's peace in any land.

For the believer, we are called to rest and remember that our citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth. " Conservation" here renders to Greek word πολίτευμα politeuma, or "citizenship."

We are children of the living God, made heirs of God through Christ:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)

and

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)

Earlier in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul writes that we have been adopted:

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1: 5)

If that were not enough, Paul later writes:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

We are seated above the heavens, in Christ -- that is your new citizenship, that is your new home, and on earth we are called to live out this heaven life which Christ has given us through His Holy Spirit:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

Rest and Remember where you live now -- you are a child of the King and you live in His Kingdom!

Christ is Your Perfect Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)

This verse has seen me through many hard times, yet when we rightly divide the Word of God, we find that this perfect peace is not something that we have to strain or strive for, but rather something that we rest in, an integral part of God's Finished Work.

I used to think that this verse meant that I had to be thinking about God all the time.

But that makes His peace conditional on what we do. That is not what Scripture teaches:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

Because Jesus Christ has died on the Cross for our sins, and by His death we are granted His life:

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5: 19)

and

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" (Romans 6: 8)

In fact, Christ Himself is our peace:

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)

Jesus Christ is prophesied as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6), and God the Father has us in His hands:

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 29)

When I look at Isaiah 26: 3, I no longer see myself holding onto perfect peace, but I see Perfect Peace personified in Christ, and He is holding on to me.

Another rendering of this verse would go like this:

"Anything formed you keep -- uphold in your hand -- in perfect peace because I trust in you"

And to trust God means to cast all our cares on Him ("1 Peter 5: -7), that we can take Him at His Word, because He gave His own Son for us!

We are called to believe on Him whom God the Father hath sent (John 6: 29). Trust in Him, and let Perfect Peace uphold you in all that you do!

Hold Onto God? He's Holding Onto You!

One teaching I heard struck me as puzzling, if unsettling.

"We ask God to hold onto us. He is telling us to hold onto Him."

That seemed to run complete counter to Jesus' final words to His disciples:

"Without me, ye can do nothing. "(John 15:5)

What gives?

First of all, believers must never fear that they can be lost. God is crystal clear about His love, with which he clasps us to him forever:

"Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" (Isaiah 43:13)

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49:16)

And in the New Testament:

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

It's pretty clear, from the fact that our names are engraved on God's own hands, to Jesus' clear promise that no one can pluck (literally: ἁρπάζω to seize, snatch, obtain by robbery) No stealth, no cunning, no trickery catching us unawares can take away our right standing from God. Even if you lost your mind, even if you are deluded into think that you have lost your faith (which is not even yours, but a gift freely given from God), God will "never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 11:6)

Imagine such intense security, such intense rest! He takes us, he holds us, he never lets us go. We are engraved in the hands of God Almighty. No one can take you away, not even God Himself, for He has etched you forever in His hands. He really has a hold on you and me, a hold that no one, no thing can break!:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Just believe, accept by faith through His word, that He has you in His love-grip; and ye need not ever fall from grace! Hallelujah!!

At Peace With God, Wherever We Are!

When I was attending meetings many years ago, I really appreciated what one woman had shared in a meeting.

"When I come to a meeting," she shared. "I fell safe. It's as if when I walk into this room, I know that for the next hour and a half, I am OK."

That was a sentiment I could agree with. Many times, if I went to a meeting, I felt as if the world and all of its problems would melt away, or at least they were put aside for the moment.

Since then, I have learned that I have peace with God the Father:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

I have since learned that Christ lives in me:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 27)

Regardless of how I feel or what I think, Paul wants every believer to receive this truth by faith:

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3: 17)

In fact, Christ Himself is our peace!

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)

Christ is our peace, He lives in us, and God Himself has sworn that He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13: 5)

So, the peace that that lady claimed to feel in the meeting, that is a peace that a believer can receive and rest in, no matter where we are!

All the more, the Holy Spirit who lives in us, who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, also bears forth the fruit of peace in our lives:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. . ." (Galatians 5: 22)

We have peace with God the Father through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. By
His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we receive the gift of His peace all the more!

And this peace is the surest of internal guidance systems, one which presides in us, indicating to us the wisdom or the folly of any course of action that we wish to take:

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3: 15, NIV)

We can be at peace wherever we are, no matter what the circumstances! Peace is not just in an AA meeting, not just in a church service, but you can rest at ease in the Peace of God anywhere!

Being Smart is Not Enough: Be Wise in Christ

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9: 11)

To this day, modern intellects trust in their wisdom. Powerful men worship the state, or they revere the esteem of men at the expense of the eternal truth.

Being smart is not enough. To be well-versed and advised in the ways of the world invites failure and folly:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1: 1-2)

"The counsel of the ungodly" is the wit and "wisdom" of the world. The traditions of the elders, the suggestions from co-workers which are not based in Scripture.

"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1: 20)

and

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (1 Corinthians 3: 19)

In fact, anything from the world is a sure bet to fail:

"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." (1 Corinthians 7:31)

and

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (2 John 2: 17)

The will of God is that we grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18)

The more that we know Jesus, the more wisdom we receive, among other wonderful gifts:

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

Being smart is not enough. Being in Christ grants us wisdom, along with the gifts of righteousness and grace for all that we need.

Humble Yourself -- Rest in Him

Most people have a shaky or unscriptural understanding of humility.

To some people, humility means thinking less of yourself. To others, it means thinking of yourself less. To still others, humility means doing what other people, or what God, tells you to do.

The Bible gives many examples of what humility really is: Resting in full trust in God and His Word:

"And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:" (Numbers 29: 7)

"Afflict your souls" would be better rendered "humble yourselves"

God then explains to the Israelites how He humbled them in the wilderness for forty years:

"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Notice how humility has nothing to do with self-regard or works to earn God's favor, but rather has everything to do with depending on God, believing on His Word, and receiving His provision.

In another verse, God is speaking of Sabbath rest:

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:" (Isaiah 58: 13)

If we delight ourselves in resting in Him, God will bless us:

"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 58: 14)

Micah  confirms that we delight in God's Mercy:

"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." (Micah 7: 18)

We are also called to trust in Him:

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37: 3-4)

The writer of Hebrews confirms that rest and belief in God's Word are one:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

And of course:

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

We humble ourselves by trusting God and taking Him at His Word -- that He loves us, that He cares for us, that He is watching out for us!

Faith is Resting in God's Word

We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2: 4-8

What is faith?:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1)

In the old testament, faith is אֱמוּנָה, which speaks of firmness, steadfastness, stability, fidelity -- that you are standing on God's Word, no matter what other circumstances may be unfolding around you.

The grace is already out there for us to receive, to take in by faith in His Word:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)

This grace has been extended to the whole world , but we accept it be faith, meaning that we take God at his Word that the grace is there:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2: 11)

Faith means resting in the truth of God’s word, that we do not have to do anything else.

The writer of Hebrews connects faith, rest, and God's Word altogether:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

In this passage, the writer sums up the rest that God the Father wanted for the Israelites, entering the Promised Land, which they refused to do because of unbelief. Faith rest in God's Word, unbelief will not take God at His Word and try to find another to accomplish God's purposes.

We trust in Him, who has paid for all or our sins, that our sin nature is something that we cannot escape on our own!

Rest is not at end in itself – rest leads us to receive the gift of righteousness, something that we are called to keep receiving (Romans 5: 17)

It is this very righteousness that we are called to wrap, or rather renew our minds to accept (Romans 12: 2).

Even if you have fearful thoughts, lustful thinking, angry or bitter thoughts, remember that it is God’s unconditional love which has perfected you and has made you in the same standing as His own beloved Son!:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

And acceptance, resting in his acceptance, means that we cease from our own works (Hebrews 4:9-11), including the fallen idea  that we must think or say or do certain things in order to be accepted in Him.

Give Thanks for What He Has Done -- and For What He Does

"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." (Exodus 17: 11)

Moses is a picture of the Law, as he was the medium through which God gave the law to the Israelites.

Yet the law on its own is weak and beggarly elements (Galatians 4: 9), and just as those who try live by the law will never be justified, but will be brought to end of themselves, so Moses grew tired. The law was given to bring us to a life of faith (Galatians 3: 24-25) in Jesus Christ.

As Moses grew tired,  Aaron (who represents the Light of the Lord) and Hur ( which means "freedom" and "nobility") brought a stone for Moses to sit, and as Moses rested in the support of the priests and the rock, Joshua prevailed over the Amalekites (v. 13)

When we rest in the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit and stand fast in the liberty that we have received in Christ (Galatians 5: 1), we reign in life over every problem.

Moses with his arms upraised is also a picture of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who with his arms outstretched, took all of God's wrath for our sins, giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

And of course, arms raised is a picture of worship. As Moses' arms were raised, Joshua  (which means "Savior") prevailed over the Amalekites. Today, the more that we worship what the Lord has done for us, granting us Himself as our Rock, on whom we can stand in steady faith (Psalm 18: 2), that we are cleansed from all our sins, then we live by faith, resting in His Finished Work, our Joshua prevails over the Amalekites of fear, worry, and strife in your life.

Give thanks to the Lord God, for through His Son His mercy endures forever in our lives, and in Him you will be more than a conqueror over every hardship!

The Righteous Live By His Faith

"The just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2: 4)

When I have read this verse in the past, I was always stirred up from within.

Yet when I read this verse, I always assumed that "his faith" refers to us. In fact, it refers to God's faith working in us!

A life of faith is tremendous ease, in which we rest in God's Promises, which are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1: 20)

Our righteousness is not from us, not from our works, not from anything that we do. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), and this righteousness we are called to receive as an ongoing gift. The King James Version declares fully that righteousness is a gift:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" (Romans 5: 17)

Yet another translation brings out the ongoing nature of receiving this gift:

"For if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one -- Jesus Christ" (Romans 5: 17, Youngs Literal Translation).

Just as our righteousness is a gift from God, so is the faith by which we live:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 8)

This faith is imparted to us directly through the Word of God, or specifically through Christ:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10: 17)

Another translation more accurately conveys this passage:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10: 17 NASB)

Paul also established to the Galatians that he lives by the faith of the Son of God (Galatians2: 20)
Beloved, do not try to work up faith for specific needs in your life. Trust in the Lord, the one who was sent by God the Father to die for us and give us His life (John 6: 29), and by His faith you will live and reign in life!

Faith Means Remain Steady in His Word

"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2: 4)

To some people, faith can seem like a work, one which causes us to become introspective.

"Do I have enough faith?" Some people ask.

Yet Jesus trumped such nonsense very simply:

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17: 20)

If you have faith of a mustard seed, you could say to that mountain --- it's not the size of our faith. but the object of our faith: God and His promises.

We do not presume to do things that we want to, in large part because God does for us beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20-21)

So, what does it mean to live by faith?

We stand on God’s Word, and move in accordance with His promises to live out what He is working into us:

"And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:" (Acts 26: 6)

and

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1: 3-4)

We live by God's Word:

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4)

We do not budge from God's Word when times get tough, or when we get afraid, but rather we stand on God's Word:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24: 35)

As Christ is the Word made flesh (John 1: 1, 5), and He now dwells in us (Colossians 1: 27), we are called to let him settle completely within us, a life-process of unfolding victory:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
 (Colossians 3: 16)

and

"Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said." (1 Chronicles 17: 23)

His Faith is Everywhere

"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." (Psalm 36: 5)

We live by the faith of the Son of God, that cannot be repeated enough:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

His faith helped heal a man in the Book of Acts:

"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3: 16)

The same faith that animates us is also everywhere around us, according the Psalmist.

This faith is working in because God's mercy, in sending His Son to die for us and live through us, connects us with the vast, incalculable reservoir of His faith all around us, which holds the universe together:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." (Colossians 1: 16)

Do not fall for the limitation that his faith only works in you, but outside of  you His faith is void and barren. Because everything is yours through Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 3: 23), and through through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4: 13), draw on the Lord Jesus Christ who lives in you and works outside of you.

Trust that he is all around and working in you – and that His faith is working for you on the outside, too!