"As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it." (Isaiah 31: 5)
When we think of a bird flying, we need to think of the bird's wings outstretched.
Wings spread abroad represent God's protection for us:
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." (Psalm 91: 4)
A bird flying can speak of an ill-omen, but an omen which will not hurt us:
"As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." (Proverbs 26: 2)
Birds in the Bible represent Jesus' sacrifice for us, too:
"1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:" (Leviticus 14: 1-4)
One bird was sacrificed in the cleansing ritual which followed the healing of a leper, and another bird was released for the Israelites to see.
The first bird's death speaks of Jesus Crucified for us. The second bird speaks of Christ's resurrection, the signal to all eternity that we are forever justified in Christ:
"25Who [Jesus] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
So, when we look at the verse above in Isaiah, we read about the bird flying over the city of Jerusalem. We know that we are at peace with God because of what Jesus did for us (Romans 5: 1). Because the Father judged all our sin in His Son, we know that all punishment which we desere has passed over us and will never fall on us.
We are delivered because of Jesus, and we know that we are justified, made righteous (2 Corinthians 5: 21) because of Him.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
His Dreams Come True in Our Lives, No Matter What
"Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams." (Genesis 37: 20)
Many of us have dreams. Some of them are based on our past experiences, or the present appraisal of our skills, or the future that we would like to see in our lives, or the future that we wish we could have.
Joseph dreamed great dreams, which even he did not quite understand. Yet before he dreamed anyything, he knew that he was precious and beloved of his father:
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." (Genesis 37: 3-4)
A coat of many colors speaks of God's grace and favor, much like the rainbow, God's covenant with Noah and the world that He would never be angry with the world again, enough to rain down a flood. (Genesis 9: 8-15)
Without a doubt, this love allowed Joseph to receive great dreams from God:
"5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."
For their hatred and their jealousy, Joseph's brothers cast him into a pit, plotting to kill him, and to put an end to his dreams.
What the brethren did not realize, and which Joseph would learn after rising from one post after another in leadership, is that their attempt to kill him and his dreams actually made sure that they would happen, plus more. After many years, through trials and blessings and mishaps, Joseph became the second in command in Egypt, and "Savior of the World" (Genesis 41: 45). When Joseph the ruler of Egypt revealed himself to his brothers, he declared:
"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45: 5)
God gives us beyond what we can ask or think:
"20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 20-21)
When God gives us a dream, He has more than our own profit in mind. More importantly, we should never fear that when mishaps or setbacks fall upon us, that God has stopped loving us, or that the dreams which He has given us or dead. In fact, those very setbacks will set up you up for greater glory and the greater good of all in Christ.
His Dreams for us Come True in our Lives, no matter what the circumstances.
Many of us have dreams. Some of them are based on our past experiences, or the present appraisal of our skills, or the future that we would like to see in our lives, or the future that we wish we could have.
Joseph dreamed great dreams, which even he did not quite understand. Yet before he dreamed anyything, he knew that he was precious and beloved of his father:
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." (Genesis 37: 3-4)
A coat of many colors speaks of God's grace and favor, much like the rainbow, God's covenant with Noah and the world that He would never be angry with the world again, enough to rain down a flood. (Genesis 9: 8-15)
Without a doubt, this love allowed Joseph to receive great dreams from God:
"5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."
For their hatred and their jealousy, Joseph's brothers cast him into a pit, plotting to kill him, and to put an end to his dreams.
What the brethren did not realize, and which Joseph would learn after rising from one post after another in leadership, is that their attempt to kill him and his dreams actually made sure that they would happen, plus more. After many years, through trials and blessings and mishaps, Joseph became the second in command in Egypt, and "Savior of the World" (Genesis 41: 45). When Joseph the ruler of Egypt revealed himself to his brothers, he declared:
"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45: 5)
God gives us beyond what we can ask or think:
"20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3: 20-21)
When God gives us a dream, He has more than our own profit in mind. More importantly, we should never fear that when mishaps or setbacks fall upon us, that God has stopped loving us, or that the dreams which He has given us or dead. In fact, those very setbacks will set up you up for greater glory and the greater good of all in Christ.
His Dreams for us Come True in our Lives, no matter what the circumstances.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Walking on Judgment, Extending Your Life
"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." (Deuteronomy 33: 25)
In the Bible, iron and brass speak of condemnation and judgment.
As part of the blessings which God extended to the Israelites if they walked in His commandments, He promised that they would walk on iron and brass.
Instead of being bound by these things, they would overcome them every day in their daily walk/
Today, because of all that Jesus has done for us, we have the shoes of the Gospel of Peace:
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (Ephesians 6: 15)
Now, some may counter that we have not kept God's law, and thus we do not qualify for the blessings offered in Deuteronomy.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus has kept all the laws, and has granted us freedom from the law by His death on the Cross:
"4For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having 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" (Ephesians 2: 14-15)
and then
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting 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; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
We are no longer under judgment and have no reason to fear condemnation:
"1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Romans 8: 1-2)
Because of the grace of God, which has eliminated all judgment and condemnation in our lives, we can look forward to long life, too:
"14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90: 14)
Followed by:
"15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
In the Bible, iron and brass speak of condemnation and judgment.
As part of the blessings which God extended to the Israelites if they walked in His commandments, He promised that they would walk on iron and brass.
Instead of being bound by these things, they would overcome them every day in their daily walk/
Today, because of all that Jesus has done for us, we have the shoes of the Gospel of Peace:
"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;" (Ephesians 6: 15)
Now, some may counter that we have not kept God's law, and thus we do not qualify for the blessings offered in Deuteronomy.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus has kept all the laws, and has granted us freedom from the law by His death on the Cross:
"4For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having 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" (Ephesians 2: 14-15)
and then
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting 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; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
We are no longer under judgment and have no reason to fear condemnation:
"1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Romans 8: 1-2)
Because of the grace of God, which has eliminated all judgment and condemnation in our lives, we can look forward to long life, too:
"14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90: 14)
Followed by:
"15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
"16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." (Psalm 91: 15-16)
Know that in Christ, you are walking on all judgment and He will extend you life today.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Not Strangers, but Sons Forever at Rest
"6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
"7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." (Isaiah 56: 6-7)
The best translation reads "who are joined to the LORD", since we cannot bring ourselves to God, but rather He came to us:
"8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5: 8-9)
He now serves as our High Priest forever:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20)
We are no longer strangers because we are fully reconciled to God the Father through Jesus:
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5: 18-19)
We have an eternal Sabbath in Jesus, too:
"For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 8-11)
We know that our prayers are accepted before God because we are accepted before Him in Christ Jesus, too.
"And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5: 15)
He hears us because we are no longer strangers, but sons of God in Christ (1 John 3: 1-3), and we are at rest forever in Jesus our rest!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
You Have His Name -- Everlasting!
"4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 56: 4-5)
Whenever we read passages in the Old Testament, let us always read the prophets' words through the fullness of the New Covenant:
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28)
What are the key elements of this New Covenant?
"10For 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:
"11And 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.
"12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
So, everyone of us is invited to take hold of this New Covenant.
And what is the result?
We are brought into His House, rather than having to beg to come in:
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
and then
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: " (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
We receive an everlasting name: sons of God in Christ:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
Then
"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." (Romans 8: 15)
John would then declare:
"1Behold, 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)
We have a name better than sons and daughters, because God our Daddy puts us in His Son, and sees us as His own 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)
We receive eternal life (John 3: 16; John 10: 10) and we are sealed in Christ through His Spirit. i.e. we receive an everlasting name which can never be cut off.
We can call on God our Father, because of Jesus:
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14: 13)
The deeper understanding we have to receive today is that the prophesies of Isaiah are fulfilled in Christ today, and forever more. In Christ, you have His Name, Everlasting!
Monday, May 26, 2014
In Christ, Not Dead But Alive and Fruitful
"3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree." (Isaiah 54: 3)
The eunuch is a picture of a person who is cursed and can bear no offspring:
"18For whatsoever man he be . . .20crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God." (Leviticus 21: 18, 20-21)
And also
"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD." (Deuteronomy 23: 1)
Someone who has damaged private parts cannot bear children, and under the Old Covenant is cursed in that that man cannot come before God to offer a sacrifice.
Wow, how terrible that is, that a physical deformity, for which we are not responsible -- this separated many people from entering, or from coming before God.
In Christ, however, we have been taken from dead and separated, to alive and bearing fruit.
In Isaiah, the LORD prophesies that the eunuch will not be a dry tree.
Because of Jesus, we all can bear fruit:
"1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide 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. 5I 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: 1-5)
Because He died for us on the tree, He gave us His life and standing, and through Him we bear fruit:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Because you are in Christ, and Christ is in you today, you are no longer desolate or cursed, but you have His life and bear fruit today.
The eunuch is a picture of a person who is cursed and can bear no offspring:
"18For whatsoever man he be . . .20crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God." (Leviticus 21: 18, 20-21)
And also
"He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD." (Deuteronomy 23: 1)
Someone who has damaged private parts cannot bear children, and under the Old Covenant is cursed in that that man cannot come before God to offer a sacrifice.
Wow, how terrible that is, that a physical deformity, for which we are not responsible -- this separated many people from entering, or from coming before God.
In Christ, however, we have been taken from dead and separated, to alive and bearing fruit.
In Isaiah, the LORD prophesies that the eunuch will not be a dry tree.
Because of Jesus, we all can bear fruit:
"1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide 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. 5I 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: 1-5)
Because He died for us on the tree, He gave us His life and standing, and through Him we bear fruit:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Because you are in Christ, and Christ is in you today, you are no longer desolate or cursed, but you have His life and bear fruit today.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
In Christ, Not Strangers but Sons
"3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree." (Isaiah 54: 3)
Let us read every passage of Scripture with one focus in mind: Jesus!
Before Jesus reconciled the world to His Father, and before we became one with Him, we were all estranged, or made strangers to God because of sin:
"16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 16-17)
Followed by:
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3: 6-7)
To prevent them from living forever in a status of dead and alienated from God, He sent them forth with a plan not just to reconcile them, and all mankind, to Himself, but to promote them into the full sonship of His own Son Jesus:
"22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. " (Genesis 3: 22-23)
Paul then explains what Jesus did when He died on the Cross:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For 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: 15-17)
We were dead, separate from God, and in Christ, in His Son, we are brought to Him:
"15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And 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 then
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
We are not strangers, we are one with God the Father through His Son, who became sin that we may boldly declare "I am a child of God" today (1 John 3: 1-3)
Let us read every passage of Scripture with one focus in mind: Jesus!
Before Jesus reconciled the world to His Father, and before we became one with Him, we were all estranged, or made strangers to God because of sin:
"16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 16-17)
Followed by:
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3: 6-7)
To prevent them from living forever in a status of dead and alienated from God, He sent them forth with a plan not just to reconcile them, and all mankind, to Himself, but to promote them into the full sonship of His own Son Jesus:
"22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. " (Genesis 3: 22-23)
Paul then explains what Jesus did when He died on the Cross:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For 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: 15-17)
We were dead, separate from God, and in Christ, in His Son, we are brought to Him:
"15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And 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 then
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
We are not strangers, we are one with God the Father through His Son, who became sin that we may boldly declare "I am a child of God" today (1 John 3: 1-3)
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Jesus Promotes Estranged People -- The Foreigner
"Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 23: 9)
God cares about foreigners, or people who live in a strange land, who are estranged from the native people.
They are easy to take advantage of, because they do not speak the main language, nor do they understand the customs of a country.
God told the Israelites to respect them and not oppress them:
"33And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19: 33-34)
The LORD taught the Israelites to identify with foreigners because they were foreigners at one time.
"17Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: 18But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing." (Deuteronomy 24: 17-18)
Did you know that you and I were once foreigners, too, estranged from God and separated from Him because of sin?
"21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Colossians 1: 21-22)
Wow! Not just redeemed, but reconciled!
We are no longer outside of His Kingdom, either:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience . . . 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2:1,2 4-6)
Later, Paul emphasizes that we are no longer estranged Gentiles, as the Jews of Moses' and Jesus' had declared:
"11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2: 11-13)
And then:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" (Ephesians 2: 19)
We are now citizens of a New Kingdom, too: His!
"[God] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1: 13)
Notice how God the Father defines the Kingdom in terms of His dear son, not just Jesus, or the Son of God, but his dear son.
Such are you and I now, in Christ (1 John 4: 17)
We were estranged from God because of Adam, we are brought into His Kingdom:
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
Do you feel alienated, do you feel that you do not fit in, that you have been rejected because of your race, color, or culture? Know and believe that because of God's love for you, you are no longer a stranger, but a full citizen in His Kingdom!
God cares about foreigners, or people who live in a strange land, who are estranged from the native people.
They are easy to take advantage of, because they do not speak the main language, nor do they understand the customs of a country.
God told the Israelites to respect them and not oppress them:
"33And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. 34But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19: 33-34)
The LORD taught the Israelites to identify with foreigners because they were foreigners at one time.
"17Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge: 18But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing." (Deuteronomy 24: 17-18)
Did you know that you and I were once foreigners, too, estranged from God and separated from Him because of sin?
"21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Colossians 1: 21-22)
Wow! Not just redeemed, but reconciled!
We are no longer outside of His Kingdom, either:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience . . . 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2:1,2 4-6)
Later, Paul emphasizes that we are no longer estranged Gentiles, as the Jews of Moses' and Jesus' had declared:
"11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2: 11-13)
And then:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" (Ephesians 2: 19)
We are now citizens of a New Kingdom, too: His!
"[God] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1: 13)
Notice how God the Father defines the Kingdom in terms of His dear son, not just Jesus, or the Son of God, but his dear son.
Such are you and I now, in Christ (1 John 4: 17)
We were estranged from God because of Adam, we are brought into His Kingdom:
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
Do you feel alienated, do you feel that you do not fit in, that you have been rejected because of your race, color, or culture? Know and believe that because of God's love for you, you are no longer a stranger, but a full citizen in His Kingdom!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Jesus Promotes Humble People -- The Samaritan Leper
"15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan." (Luke 17: 15-16)
There were ten lepers who cried out to Jesus for mercy -- that He would be kind to them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest, and they were all healed of their leprosy. (Luke 17: 14).
Yet only one returned to glorify God, the Samaritan.
Many people will comment that our praise enables God to do more in our lives, just as the leper who returned was not just healed of his leprosy, but made whole (Luke 17: 19)
The truth is, this tenth leper had no knowledge of the Law of Moses, or because of who he was, he knew that there was nothing that he could do to make himself righteous.
Those who know that they have nothing, that they need everything granted to them through Christ, they will return to him boldly (Hebrews 4: 16) and receive from Him all the more, knowing full well that it was not their law keeping that made them healed, but the grace of Christ working in them (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Jesus promotes humble people, people who know that without Him, they can do nothing (John 15: 5)
There were ten lepers who cried out to Jesus for mercy -- that He would be kind to them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest, and they were all healed of their leprosy. (Luke 17: 14).
Yet only one returned to glorify God, the Samaritan.
Many people will comment that our praise enables God to do more in our lives, just as the leper who returned was not just healed of his leprosy, but made whole (Luke 17: 19)
The truth is, this tenth leper had no knowledge of the Law of Moses, or because of who he was, he knew that there was nothing that he could do to make himself righteous.
Those who know that they have nothing, that they need everything granted to them through Christ, they will return to him boldly (Hebrews 4: 16) and receive from Him all the more, knowing full well that it was not their law keeping that made them healed, but the grace of Christ working in them (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Jesus promotes humble people, people who know that without Him, they can do nothing (John 15: 5)
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Jesus Promotes Dependent People - The Widow
"4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" (Luke 18: 4-7)
A widow is a picture of complete lack and neglect and weakness. In ancient times, a widow was as good as dead, with no man, no support, no sustenance, no standing in the community.
In the Book of Exodus, the LORD pronounced a special blessing and covering for widows:
"Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22: 23-24)
The unjust judge was so hard, so foolish, that he apparently did not fear the judgment of God, which he pronounced in the second Book of Moses. Yet if this unjust judge could be wearied by the plight of a widow, how much more do you think, then Jesus will move in our lives when we call on Him:
"8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke15: 8)
Faith, both in Hebrew as well as Greek, speaks of a complete dependence on God, for everything! By faith, we receive God's grace and righteousness (Romans 5: 17), that in Christ we may reign in this life, as well as in the life to come in eternity.
Jesus promotes dependent people, people who will not look to themselves for anything, and look to Christ for everything. In such people indeed, Jesus finds faith, because such people live by the very faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2: 20-21).
A widow is a picture of complete lack and neglect and weakness. In ancient times, a widow was as good as dead, with no man, no support, no sustenance, no standing in the community.
In the Book of Exodus, the LORD pronounced a special blessing and covering for widows:
"Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22: 23-24)
The unjust judge was so hard, so foolish, that he apparently did not fear the judgment of God, which he pronounced in the second Book of Moses. Yet if this unjust judge could be wearied by the plight of a widow, how much more do you think, then Jesus will move in our lives when we call on Him:
"8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke15: 8)
Faith, both in Hebrew as well as Greek, speaks of a complete dependence on God, for everything! By faith, we receive God's grace and righteousness (Romans 5: 17), that in Christ we may reign in this life, as well as in the life to come in eternity.
Jesus promotes dependent people, people who will not look to themselves for anything, and look to Christ for everything. In such people indeed, Jesus finds faith, because such people live by the very faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2: 20-21).
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Jesus Restores All Things Lost
"1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep." (Exodus 22: 1)
In this verse, the word "restore" renders the Hebrew word "shalam", which is the base word for "shalom", or peace, wholeness, health, wealth, consummate peace.
Christ is our peace (Ephesians 2: 14), and in Christ we receive all things (Romans 8: 32; Ephesians 1: 3)
In fact, we can rest at ease in Christ, knowing that anything that was taken from us He will restore to us fivefold.
In order to emphasis his strength to restore all things, Exodus provides an interesting teaching:
"If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double." (Exodus 22: 4)
If the thief is caught, the victimized party only gets double, yet if the thief then kills the animal or sells it -- meaning, the thief gets away with the animal -- then the original owner gets five-fold for an ox, and fourfold for a sheep. An ox is worth more, and the original owner gets more.
What's going on here? This distinction magnifies God's grace through Christ in our lives, in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world:
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
and
"9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
And for this reason also, Paul would admonish the Corinthians:
"7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." (1 Corinthians 6: 7-8)
Paul reminded them of their standing in Christ, that they are now the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 12-17), and that they would judge angels (1 Corinthians 6: 3)
Jesus does not want us to go about avenging ourselves for any loss. Rather than trying to hide or compensate for any loss, let us rest and receive, in fact keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace in Christ (Romans 5: 17), and the greater any loss which we have suffered, we can trust in God's love and both know and believe that He will make better for any good which we have lost! (Romans 8: 28)
In this verse, the word "restore" renders the Hebrew word "shalam", which is the base word for "shalom", or peace, wholeness, health, wealth, consummate peace.
Christ is our peace (Ephesians 2: 14), and in Christ we receive all things (Romans 8: 32; Ephesians 1: 3)
In fact, we can rest at ease in Christ, knowing that anything that was taken from us He will restore to us fivefold.
In order to emphasis his strength to restore all things, Exodus provides an interesting teaching:
"If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double." (Exodus 22: 4)
If the thief is caught, the victimized party only gets double, yet if the thief then kills the animal or sells it -- meaning, the thief gets away with the animal -- then the original owner gets five-fold for an ox, and fourfold for a sheep. An ox is worth more, and the original owner gets more.
What's going on here? This distinction magnifies God's grace through Christ in our lives, in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world:
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
and
"9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
And for this reason also, Paul would admonish the Corinthians:
"7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." (1 Corinthians 6: 7-8)
Paul reminded them of their standing in Christ, that they are now the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 12-17), and that they would judge angels (1 Corinthians 6: 3)
Jesus does not want us to go about avenging ourselves for any loss. Rather than trying to hide or compensate for any loss, let us rest and receive, in fact keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace in Christ (Romans 5: 17), and the greater any loss which we have suffered, we can trust in God's love and both know and believe that He will make better for any good which we have lost! (Romans 8: 28)
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Jesus Restores Our Lost Standing
Jesus is not just in the business of saving us from our sins.
He is interested, fully interested, in restoring to us all that was lost.
When Adam sinned against God, the first man lost his standing as ruler over the earth.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He not only restored our standing, but granted us something greater -- that as Christ is, so are we in this world!
"17For 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)
Moreover, through Christ's death and Resurrection, we have been taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; . . .6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 1, 6-7)
Jesus Christ restored to us our standing before God. In fact, we now have a better standing, one which even Adam did not have:
"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)
He is interested, fully interested, in restoring to us all that was lost.
When Adam sinned against God, the first man lost his standing as ruler over the earth.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He not only restored our standing, but granted us something greater -- that as Christ is, so are we in this world!
"17For 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)
Moreover, through Christ's death and Resurrection, we have been taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ:
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; . . .6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 1, 6-7)
Jesus Christ restored to us our standing before God. In fact, we now have a better standing, one which even Adam did not have:
"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)
Monday, May 19, 2014
The Prodigal Son -- Faithful and Justly Promoted
"31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." (Luke 15: 31-32)
Many people will read the parable of the Generous Father (not "Prodigal Son") and wince.
The younger son was a rebellious, incorrigible brat. He demanded his share of the inheritance right away, and then went and wasted his wealth on wanton living.
After months of living in privation and loss, the prodigal son went back to his father, convinced of his indulgent heart, since under the Mosaic law a rebellious child would expect to be executed by stoning for his flagrant disobedience and disrespect to his parents:
"If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear." (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21)
Yet the son believed that the Father's love would be great enough to overlook his rebellious decision to take his inheritance and squander it. Yet even then, the Father's love was beyond what the son could ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20)
Now, many readers will conclude that the Father was neither faithful not just for permitting his son to receive not just everything that he had lost, but to receive even more.
Yet in fact, God the Father is indeed both faithful and just to bless the prodigal son, and all of us in turn, through His Son Jesus Christ:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)
When we confess ourselves sinners, completely destitute and lost without Himself, we can receive the gifts of righteousness and grace, which God the Father provided for us at the Cross, through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus:
"8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 8-9)
What is this love, specifically?:
"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)
Jesus called God the Father Abba (Mark 14: 36), yet at the Cross Jesus became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), that we might receive the Spirit of adoption in Christ (Romans 8: 15), that we may call God "Abba".
Just like the prodigal son, we can all come boldly to God (Hebrews 4: 16), knowing that we can receive grace in time of need, because Jesus died the death that we all deserve. He died for us and as us that we may boldly claim:
"17Herein 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)
Many people will read the parable of the Generous Father (not "Prodigal Son") and wince.
The younger son was a rebellious, incorrigible brat. He demanded his share of the inheritance right away, and then went and wasted his wealth on wanton living.
After months of living in privation and loss, the prodigal son went back to his father, convinced of his indulgent heart, since under the Mosaic law a rebellious child would expect to be executed by stoning for his flagrant disobedience and disrespect to his parents:
"If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear." (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21)
Yet the son believed that the Father's love would be great enough to overlook his rebellious decision to take his inheritance and squander it. Yet even then, the Father's love was beyond what the son could ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20)
Now, many readers will conclude that the Father was neither faithful not just for permitting his son to receive not just everything that he had lost, but to receive even more.
Yet in fact, God the Father is indeed both faithful and just to bless the prodigal son, and all of us in turn, through His Son Jesus Christ:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)
When we confess ourselves sinners, completely destitute and lost without Himself, we can receive the gifts of righteousness and grace, which God the Father provided for us at the Cross, through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus:
"8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 8-9)
What is this love, specifically?:
"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)
Jesus called God the Father Abba (Mark 14: 36), yet at the Cross Jesus became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), that we might receive the Spirit of adoption in Christ (Romans 8: 15), that we may call God "Abba".
Just like the prodigal son, we can all come boldly to God (Hebrews 4: 16), knowing that we can receive grace in time of need, because Jesus died the death that we all deserve. He died for us and as us that we may boldly claim:
"17Herein 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)
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Mature (and Secure) in Christ
What defines "immaturity"?
I used to think it had something to do with how many people you knew.
Then again, perhaps maturity depended on how well a person could manage his emotions.
I am now convinced that maturity depends to a greater extent on --- security.
How secure do you feel in your own skin?
How secure do you feel in the truth of who you are?
Do you define who you are by what you do, what you have, what you are?
I know beyond the shadow of a doubt -- that who I am has nothing to do with who I am:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
For God's grace to flow in my life, I learned that I had to be established in righteousness:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. " (Isaiah 54: 14)
This was a promise in the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ:
"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)
This gift of righteousness, this new identity of grace, these two God invites us to receive and keep receiving:
"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)
There is no surer sense of security than a life of receiving and receiving again by faith the imputation of no condemnation and power to do all things through Christ!
So immaturity will melt away in the life of a believer who is transformed from glory to glory, who receives righteousness from faith to faith in Christ Jesus!
I used to think it had something to do with how many people you knew.
Then again, perhaps maturity depended on how well a person could manage his emotions.
I am now convinced that maturity depends to a greater extent on --- security.
How secure do you feel in your own skin?
How secure do you feel in the truth of who you are?
Do you define who you are by what you do, what you have, what you are?
I know beyond the shadow of a doubt -- that who I am has nothing to do with who I am:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
For God's grace to flow in my life, I learned that I had to be established in righteousness:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. " (Isaiah 54: 14)
This was a promise in the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ:
"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)
This gift of righteousness, this new identity of grace, these two God invites us to receive and keep receiving:
"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)
There is no surer sense of security than a life of receiving and receiving again by faith the imputation of no condemnation and power to do all things through Christ!
So immaturity will melt away in the life of a believer who is transformed from glory to glory, who receives righteousness from faith to faith in Christ Jesus!
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Reign in Life as You Receive His Righteousness and Grace
"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)
The verb "receive" is in the progressive active tense -- "are receiving"
We are invited not just to receive this gift of grace and righteousness one time, when we are saved, and taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 1-6)
We are called to keep receiving, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
Jesus brought us grace and truth (John 1: 17)
Grace speaks of unmerited, unearned favor.
We did not deserve this great gift, yet while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us (Romans 5: 8), and through His death and resurrection, we indeed and in deed reign in life, for Christ is our life (John 14: 6; Colossians 3: 3-4)
Keep seeing Jesus in the world, keep receiving His grace and righteousness, and be more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8: 37)
The verb "receive" is in the progressive active tense -- "are receiving"
We are invited not just to receive this gift of grace and righteousness one time, when we are saved, and taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 1-6)
We are called to keep receiving, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
Jesus brought us grace and truth (John 1: 17)
Grace speaks of unmerited, unearned favor.
We did not deserve this great gift, yet while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us (Romans 5: 8), and through His death and resurrection, we indeed and in deed reign in life, for Christ is our life (John 14: 6; Colossians 3: 3-4)
Keep seeing Jesus in the world, keep receiving His grace and righteousness, and be more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8: 37)
Friday, May 16, 2014
Jesus Already is Your Life!
"I want my life to be centered on Jesus!"
"I want Christ to be the center of my life!"
All of this talk, however impassioned, serious, and respectable, still misses the point.
If you are a Christian, our life is no longer about making Jesus the Center of our lives.
He is our Life -- already!
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1: 1-2)
Jesus has been in place since the beginning, before anyone of us were thinking about Him!
He is our life:
"6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
and then
"20I 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. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
and
"3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
To the extent that we try to make Jesus the Center of our Life, which He already is, to that extent we fall back under law:
"4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5: 4-6)
Jesus is your life. You cannot "make him the center of your life", because He is already there, and you are in Him:
"And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 23)
Jesus already is your life!
"I want Christ to be the center of my life!"
All of this talk, however impassioned, serious, and respectable, still misses the point.
If you are a Christian, our life is no longer about making Jesus the Center of our lives.
He is our Life -- already!
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1: 1-2)
Jesus has been in place since the beginning, before anyone of us were thinking about Him!
He is our life:
"6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
and then
"20I 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. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
and
"3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
To the extent that we try to make Jesus the Center of our Life, which He already is, to that extent we fall back under law:
"4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5: 4-6)
Jesus is your life. You cannot "make him the center of your life", because He is already there, and you are in Him:
"And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 23)
Jesus already is your life!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Jesus is in the Center, Already!
"Jesus, Be the Center of Our Church!"
"Jesus, Be the Center of Our Life."
These protests are delayed and uninformed.
Jesus is the Center:
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." (Revelation 1: 13)
and also
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." (Revelation 2: 1)
Moreover
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (Revelation 5: 6)
Jesus is in the Center, in the midst. He gets first place in all things:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
"Before" means first in prominence and precedence.
For the Believer, it is not a matter of making Jesus the center of our lives, but rather that we allow the word of God to renew our minds to the Truth (Romans 12: 2), that Jesus is indeed at the Center of all things, including our very lives.
"Jesus, Be the Center of Our Life."
These protests are delayed and uninformed.
Jesus is the Center:
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." (Revelation 1: 13)
and also
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." (Revelation 2: 1)
Moreover
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (Revelation 5: 6)
Jesus is in the Center, in the midst. He gets first place in all things:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
"Before" means first in prominence and precedence.
For the Believer, it is not a matter of making Jesus the center of our lives, but rather that we allow the word of God to renew our minds to the Truth (Romans 12: 2), that Jesus is indeed at the Center of all things, including our very lives.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
He Has Fulfilled the Law through His Love
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Galatians 5: 14)
When I read this passage in Galatians, my first reaction was "As long as I love other people, then I am OK with God."
Yet the more that I tried to love other people, the harder it was to love anyone.
I just did not have what it took to love others at all.
Then I looked at First Corinthians 13 again:
"1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13: 1-3)
Paul writes about "If I have not" not "If I do not".
We need to have God's love in us, before we can love others.
John writes about this in his first epistle, too:
"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. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 17-19)
Notice again in the verse: "For the law is fulfilled in one word. . ."
Jesus loved us perfectly at the Cross, and after His death and resurrection, Paul the apostle invites to grow in knowledge of God's love for us:
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 16-19)
Jesus fulfilled the law when He died on the Cross, and now through His death we are freed from the law, that we may live by His grace (Romans 7: 1-4)
Don't focus on your own efforts to love. Grow in knowledge of how much He loves you, and you will find Him loving others through you:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
When I read this passage in Galatians, my first reaction was "As long as I love other people, then I am OK with God."
Yet the more that I tried to love other people, the harder it was to love anyone.
I just did not have what it took to love others at all.
Then I looked at First Corinthians 13 again:
"1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13: 1-3)
Paul writes about "If I have not" not "If I do not".
We need to have God's love in us, before we can love others.
John writes about this in his first epistle, too:
"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. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 17-19)
Notice again in the verse: "For the law is fulfilled in one word. . ."
Jesus loved us perfectly at the Cross, and after His death and resurrection, Paul the apostle invites to grow in knowledge of God's love for us:
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 16-19)
Jesus fulfilled the law when He died on the Cross, and now through His death we are freed from the law, that we may live by His grace (Romans 7: 1-4)
Don't focus on your own efforts to love. Grow in knowledge of how much He loves you, and you will find Him loving others through you:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
He Works for Us -- So Stop Working
Christ did everything, and in Him we find everything, too:
"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)
The work is finished
Yet for years, I never felt at peace.
The settled peace which Jesus gives us, He gives us by grace through faith, not through our works.
There is no mixing law with grace, and yet many Christians believe that they have to add the Twelve Steps to the One Work which Jesus did for us.
Jesus is working in us and through us. He is ministering on our behalf, and He sits as our representative at the right hand of God the Father:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
This Jesus is not a product of our conception. He is a living, breathing person who ministers on our behalf
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 16-17)
and
"1Wherefore 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, 2Looking 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)
We stop looking at ourselves, which includes "taking our inventory", and we start seeing Jesus our forerunner not as a mere example of how we are to live, but rather see Him as our life:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
He is our life, and He is alive in us now, as long as we rest in Him and keeping receiving His gifts of righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17)
Jesus is working for me, because I can do nothing of myself.
Oh, this wonderful Savior! He is saving us now. Not just from death to life, but in this life He is still saving us, still restoring us, still serving us.
He is working for you Beloved. So stop working, because He works and does a better job at it, too!
"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)
The work is finished
Yet for years, I never felt at peace.
The settled peace which Jesus gives us, He gives us by grace through faith, not through our works.
There is no mixing law with grace, and yet many Christians believe that they have to add the Twelve Steps to the One Work which Jesus did for us.
Jesus is working in us and through us. He is ministering on our behalf, and He sits as our representative at the right hand of God the Father:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
This Jesus is not a product of our conception. He is a living, breathing person who ministers on our behalf
"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 16-17)
and
"1Wherefore 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, 2Looking 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)
We stop looking at ourselves, which includes "taking our inventory", and we start seeing Jesus our forerunner not as a mere example of how we are to live, but rather see Him as our life:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
He is our life, and He is alive in us now, as long as we rest in Him and keeping receiving His gifts of righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17)
Jesus is working for me, because I can do nothing of myself.
Oh, this wonderful Savior! He is saving us now. Not just from death to life, but in this life He is still saving us, still restoring us, still serving us.
He is working for you Beloved. So stop working, because He works and does a better job at it, too!
Monday, May 12, 2014
Before Anything -- Jesus Is!
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8: 58)
Jesus invoked "I am" to state that He is God, that as the Messiah, He is not lesser than David, but equal with God:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
When David said " My Lord", he is referring to Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of God:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he [Jesus] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Jesus Christ is before all things, and through Him all things were made:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
He is forever for us, the same at all times forever:
"t your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)
and
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 8)
In Revelation, the fulness of Jesus is presented:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22: 13)
Before anything -- Jesus is, and He is for you:
"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15: 27)
Jesus invoked "I am" to state that He is God, that as the Messiah, He is not lesser than David, but equal with God:
"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)
When David said " My Lord", he is referring to Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of God:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he [Jesus] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Jesus Christ is before all things, and through Him all things were made:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
He is forever for us, the same at all times forever:
"t your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)
and
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 8)
In Revelation, the fulness of Jesus is presented:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22: 13)
Before anything -- Jesus is, and He is for you:
"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15: 27)
Sunday, May 11, 2014
The Cross Offends Our Flesh
"And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased." (Galatians 5: 11)
When Paul writes about circumcision, by extension he is writing about the Law of Moses, and thus the Old Covenant.
"19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3: 19-22)
The law was a guardian of the Israelites until the Messiah came, Jesus, and by His death and resurrection, He now serves as our high priest forever:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20)
then
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
Instead of striving in our efforts, Jesus now lives in us by His Holy Spirit, that we may have His Life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10)
"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)
Our flesh is crucified with Christ, and therefore when we preach the fullness of the Gospel, those who still see some good in themselves will be angry.
The circumcision of our flesh means nothing. God is all about the circumcision of our hearts, that we receive a new heart, a new spirit, and thus Himself:
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." (Deuteronomy 10: 16)
In the New Testament, Peter talks about the deeper cleansing which Jesus' blood has accomplished:
"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:" (1 Peter 3: 21)
The Cross offends our flesh - because at the Cross, our flesh was crucified along with Jesus. Do not fear, Beloved, because you are in the Spirit, a child of God, more than a conqueror in Christ.
When Paul writes about circumcision, by extension he is writing about the Law of Moses, and thus the Old Covenant.
"19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3: 19-22)
The law was a guardian of the Israelites until the Messiah came, Jesus, and by His death and resurrection, He now serves as our high priest forever:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20)
then
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
Instead of striving in our efforts, Jesus now lives in us by His Holy Spirit, that we may have His Life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10)
"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)
Our flesh is crucified with Christ, and therefore when we preach the fullness of the Gospel, those who still see some good in themselves will be angry.
The circumcision of our flesh means nothing. God is all about the circumcision of our hearts, that we receive a new heart, a new spirit, and thus Himself:
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." (Deuteronomy 10: 16)
In the New Testament, Peter talks about the deeper cleansing which Jesus' blood has accomplished:
"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:" (1 Peter 3: 21)
The Cross offends our flesh - because at the Cross, our flesh was crucified along with Jesus. Do not fear, Beloved, because you are in the Spirit, a child of God, more than a conqueror in Christ.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Your Trouble Has Been Judged
"I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be." (Galatians 5: 10)
What mind did Paul want the Galatians believers to hold?
"7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Galatians 5: 7-9)
First of all, truth in the Bible identifies fully with grace, because both come to us in Christ Jesus:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
When Paul writes about the truth, He is writing about the Gospel of Grace:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
and
"To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 5)
and then
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)
Truth is identified in line with the Gospel of grace in these passages, too:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
and
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" (Colossians 1: 5)
The truth of the Gospel inform us of our full justification in Christ, apart from the law, since the law was a schoolmaster which brought the Israelites to Christ (Galatians 3: 24-26)
Anyone who shames another into thinking that they must keep the law, return to the Old Covenant, approach God based on works-obedience instead of the obedience of faith--those people trouble the children of God in the Body of Christ.
Rest assured, though, Beloved. Those who reproach for walking by faith in what Jesus has done will not last, and they will not get away with it. The greatest accuser is Satan, whose weapon was the law, and because Jesus has fulfilled the law, you can rest assured that he who would trouble you has borne the judgment of God.
Do not fight back, do not shame others who still believe hat you have to live under rules to be holy, and do not doubt your standing of liberty in Christ (Galatians 5: 1)
Know that He is fighting for you, because you are more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8: 37)
What mind did Paul want the Galatians believers to hold?
"7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Galatians 5: 7-9)
First of all, truth in the Bible identifies fully with grace, because both come to us in Christ Jesus:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
When Paul writes about the truth, He is writing about the Gospel of Grace:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
and
"To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 5)
and then
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)
Truth is identified in line with the Gospel of grace in these passages, too:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
and
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" (Colossians 1: 5)
The truth of the Gospel inform us of our full justification in Christ, apart from the law, since the law was a schoolmaster which brought the Israelites to Christ (Galatians 3: 24-26)
Anyone who shames another into thinking that they must keep the law, return to the Old Covenant, approach God based on works-obedience instead of the obedience of faith--those people trouble the children of God in the Body of Christ.
Rest assured, though, Beloved. Those who reproach for walking by faith in what Jesus has done will not last, and they will not get away with it. The greatest accuser is Satan, whose weapon was the law, and because Jesus has fulfilled the law, you can rest assured that he who would trouble you has borne the judgment of God.
Do not fight back, do not shame others who still believe hat you have to live under rules to be holy, and do not doubt your standing of liberty in Christ (Galatians 5: 1)
Know that He is fighting for you, because you are more than a conqueror in Christ (Romans 8: 37)
Friday, May 9, 2014
Humbled By How Big His Hand Is!
"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)
Most of us have a hard time with this exhortation.
We either do not think that He can or that He will not help us.
First of all, let's press past the notion that He cannot:
"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Psalm 18: 14)
The impossible happened in the life of Abraham and Sarah -- the woman who had lost the power to conceived of herself, had a son by the next year.
Do you face an impossible situation in your life today? Believe that He can do something in the midst of your impossible situation.
Check out what the LORD shared with Jeremiah:
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32: 27)
God had commissioned Jeremiah to buy a portion of land, with the full understand that the captivity would be coming back.
Jeremiah understood that God is great, but he admitted (barely) that He could not see how God could accomplish such a restoration:
"24Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. 25And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans." (Jeremiah 32: 24-25)
The redemption of land in Jerusalem is one thing, but the redemption of the entire human race is something greater, beyond what we can ask or think:
"24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18: 24-27)
Jesus brought the rich man to the end of himself, showing that there is nothing that we can do to inherit anything else.
What is impossible for us to earn, Jesus is more than willing for us to receive from Him:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)
After the Cross, we are graced with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3)
Paul also gives us this certainty:
"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)
We can know and believe that He loves us and wants to help us -- so keep on casting your cares on Him, because He cares (now and forever!) for you.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
Most of us have a hard time with this exhortation.
We either do not think that He can or that He will not help us.
First of all, let's press past the notion that He cannot:
"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Psalm 18: 14)
The impossible happened in the life of Abraham and Sarah -- the woman who had lost the power to conceived of herself, had a son by the next year.
Do you face an impossible situation in your life today? Believe that He can do something in the midst of your impossible situation.
Check out what the LORD shared with Jeremiah:
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32: 27)
God had commissioned Jeremiah to buy a portion of land, with the full understand that the captivity would be coming back.
Jeremiah understood that God is great, but he admitted (barely) that He could not see how God could accomplish such a restoration:
"24Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. 25And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans." (Jeremiah 32: 24-25)
The redemption of land in Jerusalem is one thing, but the redemption of the entire human race is something greater, beyond what we can ask or think:
"24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18: 24-27)
Jesus brought the rich man to the end of himself, showing that there is nothing that we can do to inherit anything else.
What is impossible for us to earn, Jesus is more than willing for us to receive from Him:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)
After the Cross, we are graced with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3)
Paul also gives us this certainty:
"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)
We can know and believe that He loves us and wants to help us -- so keep on casting your cares on Him, because He cares (now and forever!) for you.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
His Righteousness Guides Us
"Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face." (Psalm 5: 8)
We do not need our own righteousness, but God's righteousness:
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)
Notice that in this verse, the term "righteousness" is plural, which suggests that the abundance of our own works will not work as well as the Finished Work of Jesus. Not only that, but our own righteousness works are filthy, and filthy rags only make a dirty mess even dirtier.
How is this good?
We need perfect righteousness, and we receive this wonderful gift through Jesus:
"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)
This wonderful promise was brought to us through the same prophet who would condemn our self-righteousness:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
And whose righteousness establishes us?
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)
This righteousness comes from God Himself, a righteousness into which He guides us, too:
"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23: 3)
The greater our revelation of God's righteousness in our lives (revelation of what He has given us, not a need to receive more of it), the more that we will find our God leading us by His peace (Colossians 3: 15)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
and then
"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)
His righteousness produces peace in our lives, and His peace guides us, and with great joy!
We do not need our own righteousness, but God's righteousness:
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)
Notice that in this verse, the term "righteousness" is plural, which suggests that the abundance of our own works will not work as well as the Finished Work of Jesus. Not only that, but our own righteousness works are filthy, and filthy rags only make a dirty mess even dirtier.
How is this good?
We need perfect righteousness, and we receive this wonderful gift through Jesus:
"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)
This wonderful promise was brought to us through the same prophet who would condemn our self-righteousness:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
And whose righteousness establishes us?
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)
This righteousness comes from God Himself, a righteousness into which He guides us, too:
"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23: 3)
The greater our revelation of God's righteousness in our lives (revelation of what He has given us, not a need to receive more of it), the more that we will find our God leading us by His peace (Colossians 3: 15)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
and then
"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)
His righteousness produces peace in our lives, and His peace guides us, and with great joy!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Keeping on Casting Cares into His Big Hands
"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 have to humble ourselves to receive grace from God.
What does it mean to humble ourselves?
That we cast and keep casting our cares on Him, that we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord:
"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)
If we have cares, we believe that His hands are somehow not big enough to carry everything.
Instead of trying to fix our feelings, we need to fix our eyes on how great He is:
"12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 12-14)
We become fathers of the faith, so to speak, when we see that Jesus is He who has been from the beginning.
When we understand that He has overcome the word (John 16: 33), and that because He is in us, we can know that we have overcome the world as well (1 John 4: 4), then we can rest assured that He can hold everything together for us:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
That word "consist" means "hold together"
His hands are big enough, Beloved.
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10: 29)
His hands are big enough, Beloved -- keep casting your cares into His hands!
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)
We have to humble ourselves to receive grace from God.
What does it mean to humble ourselves?
That we cast and keep casting our cares on Him, that we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord:
"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)
If we have cares, we believe that His hands are somehow not big enough to carry everything.
Instead of trying to fix our feelings, we need to fix our eyes on how great He is:
"12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2: 12-14)
We become fathers of the faith, so to speak, when we see that Jesus is He who has been from the beginning.
When we understand that He has overcome the word (John 16: 33), and that because He is in us, we can know that we have overcome the world as well (1 John 4: 4), then we can rest assured that He can hold everything together for us:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1: 17)
That word "consist" means "hold together"
His hands are big enough, Beloved.
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10: 29)
His hands are big enough, Beloved -- keep casting your cares into His hands!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Jesus Our Neighbor By Grace
For the past five days, you have read about the Parable of the Samaritan, who is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Confronted by a lawyer seeking to justify himself with the question "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus shared a parable about a wounded victim of robbery (us), whom a priest and a Levite ignore (the Law)
Then comes the Samaritan, a picture of Jesus, who does not shame us with questions about why we ended up in such a terrible place, but heals our wounds, grants us his life and standing, and provides for us out of the riches of His grace.
Then comes Jesus' question to the lawyer:
Confronted by a lawyer seeking to justify himself with the question "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus shared a parable about a wounded victim of robbery (us), whom a priest and a Levite ignore (the Law)
Then comes the Samaritan, a picture of Jesus, who does not shame us with questions about why we ended up in such a terrible place, but heals our wounds, grants us his life and standing, and provides for us out of the riches of His grace.
Then comes Jesus' question to the lawyer:
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?"
"Who was neighbor" as an action - not "who is my neighbor" as identity.
The lawyer, refusing to say "Samaritan", actually gave the best answer:
37 He that shewed mercy on him.
The law offers no mercy, no grace to fallen man in this fallen world. Jesus does, though, and He wants us to do the same. As we receive the abundance of His grace and righteousness (Romans 5: 17), we then grant grace to others (Ephesians 4: 31-32)
Jesus then finishes with:
"Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10: 25-37)
Be gracious!
This parable is not a stern demand that we help ever hitchhiker fallen among thieves. There are many who engage in "charity" but have not love, and nothing profits from all that they do (1 Corinthians 13)
Let us go from the law and enter into Jesus' grace. Let Jesus be your neighbor today, and let Him supply every one of your needs!
Monday, May 5, 2014
Jesus Our Samaritan Heals Us
Now, the Samaritan, who is not under law, acts out of grace for this half-dead sojourner on the road. He treats the wounded man with wine and oil. Wine represents the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from all our sins:
"After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11: 25)
The oil represents the Holy Spirit, who grants us God's life in us.
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2: 20)
and then
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)
Not only does the Samaritan heal the half-dead man's wounds to revive him, but then he sets the wounded on his beast. This is a picture of Jesus' placing us in heavenly places at the right hand of God the Father.
Remember that Jesus entered triumphantly into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey (Matthew 21: 1-10)
And
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: " (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
Now, Jesus our Good Samaritan does not just cleanse us of our sins, give us His life, and grant us His standing in the world. He also delivers us to a safe place, where we rest and receive all things from Him, and can rest assured all the more that any needs we have, He is richly supplying them:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
and then
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Jesus: The Good Samaritan
29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Jesus talks about a certain man robbed and wounded by thieves. This certain man is a picture of all of us, men and women who because of Adam have left the city of Peace because of sin.
We have been robbed and deposes from reigning in life at birth, because of Adam, who fell for Satan's lie (Genesis 3:1-8). Satan is a robber, but because of sin and death, we are all half-dead,
Now, two representatives of the Law of Moses pass by this "certain man". The priest and the Levite cannot help a fallen man, or else they will be defiled.
"10And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; 11Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; 12Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 21:10-12)
The law does not help us, but rather shows us how helpless we are and magnifies are half-dead state.
Then comes the Samaritan, who is a picture of Jesus. Samaritans were half-Jewish, half-Gentile, despised by the Jews of Jerusalem. A source of scorn to the religious leaders, as well, but not to Jesus, who had to go through Samaria in order to minister to the woman at the well (John 4).
The Samaritan represents Jesus because the Body of Christ is made of Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:11-15)
Just like the Samaritan, Jesus became despised and rejected, so that we could be accepted:
"Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee." (Isaiah 49: 7)
and then
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53: 3)
And then
"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)
and
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
Jesus today is your high priest forever (Hebrews 9: 22), serving still.
Let Him be your Good Samaritan today!
and then
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53: 3)
And then
"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)
and
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
Jesus today is your high priest forever (Hebrews 9: 22), serving still.
Let Him be your Good Samaritan today!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Law: Failed Attempt to Justify Ourselves
During His earthly ministry, Jesus confronted self-righteous individuals who wanted to prove their standing before God by what they did.
"25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Luke 10: 25-28)
In this text, there are a few revelations worth manifesting.
A lawyer during Jesus' earthly ministry was not an advocate who represented clients in a court of law, but a master-teacher who knew the Torah, or the law of Moses thoroughly. In this passage, we see the teacher as a type of the law, while Jesus, who is grace and truth combined (John 1: 17), responds to the lawyer's temptations to justify himself through the law rather than magnify God's grace.
When Jesus says to the lawyer "Do this, and you shall live", one has to wonder: how can anyone do anything in order to live? We have to live first before we can do anything. We have to have life in order to accomplish anything.
"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: 5)
Yet the law was given to man precisely to show that he is dead, has no life, and needs more than just a set of rules:
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 20)
and
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
Man needs the death in trespasses removed from himself (Genesis 3: 8; Ephesians 2: 1-4). Instead of recognizing the impossibility for man to earn righteousness by his works, the lawyer tries to justify himself.
Such is the effect of living under law: the never-ending efforts to make oneself righteous, when the law was never designed to make us holy in the first place (Romans 5: 20; Galatians 3: 19)
Friday, May 2, 2014
Jesus Your Neighbor is Doing
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Such is the royal law, as given my Moses"
"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12: 31)
But the law is weak and beggarly elements compared to the Grace of Christ:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
But grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. You can give something from far away, and not have your heart in it, even.
But Jesus came to us, even when we did not care or even know Him (Romans 5: 8)
The Law tells us what we must do.
Grace focuses on what Jesus is doing.
Remember that He comes to live in us, and to live through us.
This life is not our life, but Himself:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
I just noticed the present tense "saith" or "says" - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His present statement will never change. Today, He is your Life, and He was for you and me yesterday, and will be our life forever (Hebrews 13: 8). Does not change!
Now, Jesus is also our neighbor, in that He loves us since of ourselves we can do nothing (John 15: 5)
Such is the royal law, as given my Moses"
"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12: 31)
But the law is weak and beggarly elements compared to the Grace of Christ:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
But grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. You can give something from far away, and not have your heart in it, even.
But Jesus came to us, even when we did not care or even know Him (Romans 5: 8)
The Law tells us what we must do.
Grace focuses on what Jesus is doing.
Remember that He comes to live in us, and to live through us.
This life is not our life, but Himself:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
I just noticed the present tense "saith" or "says" - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His present statement will never change. Today, He is your Life, and He was for you and me yesterday, and will be our life forever (Hebrews 13: 8). Does not change!
Now, Jesus is also our neighbor, in that He loves us since of ourselves we can do nothing (John 15: 5)
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Don't Regret Lost Time -- God More Than Makes Up For It!
Many preachers will contend, and I agree, that the Israelites suffered needlessly at the hands of Pharoah after the death of Joseph, and then the rise of another king who did not know Joseph or the Lord God.
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD." (Joshua 24: 14)
The Israelites were worshipping other gods while slaves in Egypt, and even after the LORD had delivered them from their slavemasters, rescued them, and even when they switched covenants, so to speak (Exodus 19: 8), and afterwards, as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
Keep in mind, furthermore, that Joshua was speaking to the new generation, the Israelites who were too young to rebel against the commandment of the LORD in Numbers 13 and 14 to take the land which God had already given them.
So, many would rightly conclude that the Israelites wasted a great deal of time.
Yet let us look back to the Covenant promise which the LORD had made to Abram:
"13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance." (Genesis 15: 13-14)
God had predicted that the Israelites would be slaves. He also predicted that they would leave Egypt with great substance.
But also, while the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the giants of the land of Canaan were preparing the homes, farms, and wells for the Israelites:
"And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; " (Deuteronomy 6: 10-11)
So, even though the Israelites were wasting their time, so to speak, as slaves in Egypt serving other gods, the LORD God Almighty , who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and at the very moment when the Israelites cried out over their oppression, God heard them and readied their deliverance:
"23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:23-25)
We can speed up the release of God's grace in our lives by crying out early and often that we need Him, and that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Yet us also remember that for God, a day is as one thousand years, and vice verse (2 Peter 3: 8), and that He can bring the most fantastic miracle out of the most ordinary (John 2: 9) and even the most dire (Mark 9: 24) situations something beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20-21).
Don't regret lost time. Turn to Him boldly in your time of need (Hebrews 4: 16), and receive His grace, and behold Him make all things, no matter how bad, work for your good (Romans 8: 28)
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD." (Joshua 24: 14)
The Israelites were worshipping other gods while slaves in Egypt, and even after the LORD had delivered them from their slavemasters, rescued them, and even when they switched covenants, so to speak (Exodus 19: 8), and afterwards, as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
Keep in mind, furthermore, that Joshua was speaking to the new generation, the Israelites who were too young to rebel against the commandment of the LORD in Numbers 13 and 14 to take the land which God had already given them.
So, many would rightly conclude that the Israelites wasted a great deal of time.
Yet let us look back to the Covenant promise which the LORD had made to Abram:
"13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance." (Genesis 15: 13-14)
God had predicted that the Israelites would be slaves. He also predicted that they would leave Egypt with great substance.
But also, while the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the giants of the land of Canaan were preparing the homes, farms, and wells for the Israelites:
"And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; " (Deuteronomy 6: 10-11)
So, even though the Israelites were wasting their time, so to speak, as slaves in Egypt serving other gods, the LORD God Almighty , who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and at the very moment when the Israelites cried out over their oppression, God heard them and readied their deliverance:
"23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:23-25)
We can speed up the release of God's grace in our lives by crying out early and often that we need Him, and that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Yet us also remember that for God, a day is as one thousand years, and vice verse (2 Peter 3: 8), and that He can bring the most fantastic miracle out of the most ordinary (John 2: 9) and even the most dire (Mark 9: 24) situations something beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20-21).
Don't regret lost time. Turn to Him boldly in your time of need (Hebrews 4: 16), and receive His grace, and behold Him make all things, no matter how bad, work for your good (Romans 8: 28)
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