So beautiful really.
Ps.
{119:151} Thou [art] near, O LORD; and all thy commandments [are] truth.
{119:152} Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Truth, testimonies founded forever.
All thy commandments are truth.
There is beauty in this, knowing that in God there is only truth, never a lie, never a misconception, no deceptions. Everything is made plain, the path is straight. Living in a world where there are so few you can really trust, where deceptions are so common you have to raise your children letting them know that 'that's the way people are', is so sad. It's no wonder depression is rampant. You have to wonder if your partner will deceive you, if your children are lying to you, even if parents aren't being deceptive. If you can honestly say that your mate, your family, your children would never lie to you then people were call you deluded. Why? Because that's the world we live in today. Integrity, honesty, uprightness is called strange and abnormal. Not going out there and sewing your wild oats is odd and makes you different and off in some way, not the norm.
God's commandments are true, His testimonies forever.
God's way is deception free.
I'm not saying all Christians are deception free, nooooooo, not saying that. I'm saying God's way is. If a Christian is following God's way they'll shun deception, they'll know deception is a sin and want to repent from deceiving, to turn from it by the grace of God.
That old- Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven- is true and yet Christians may come off as if they're trying to be perfect because the example they are aiming to follow is perfect. Striving for perfection will never make you perfect, striving to live as Jesus instructs us to live will naturally lead towards that perfection, it's an automatic outcome of the life they are trying to emulate with Christ in them and they in Christ.
Col. {1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Gal. {2:20} 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.
Christ living in us, living in the spirit of Christ.
An old friend might meet the daughter of a woman she knew long ago and upon meeting them and watching them over a period of time be able to say truthfully that they're just like their mother, their mannerisms and such, they might even say the spirit of your mother is alive in you. You've heard that before- keeping someone's spirit alive and you know what they mean- it's the way about someone that keeps that alive.
Gal. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit would come to us, walking with Christ, Christ living in us, having the Spirit, when we do this the automatic outcome is being more and more like Christ and less and less like our former self.
1 Pet.
{1:13} Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
{1:14} As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance
{1:15} But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation
{1:16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
God is truth.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus is forever.
Jesus' truth is forever.
Grace gives us hope, without the grace of God there is no hope. Clinging to that hope, to the grace of God, to Jesus, is life. Drawing closer and closer to Jesus our lives will reflect Him. Don't despair if you feel farther away and less worthy the closer you get, those are tools of Satan eager to use so that you will give up your hope by making you think you are trying to save yourselves and failing miserably. We don't have to let Satan use those feelings against us. We can embrace them and know that any chastising, any clarity to our own unworthiness is really showing us that we are standing in the light of Christ and that light is revealing our failings but more importantly it's revealing His glory and His power to save to the uttermost.
Heb. {7:25} Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them
The light can blind, the light can reveal the dirt in the corners, but the light also offers protection from darkness, the light gives warmth, the light gives sight.
May we all be bathed brilliantly in the light of Christ's truth and glory even if it means seeing each and every ugly blemish upon us and in our lives. While seeing the blemishes only make us feel ugly and unworthy, we can see them and have our hope that one day we will be blemish free, our characters will be free of sin in that day. Let's live in the light no matter the nightmare it reveals in us. Don't let the light be used to drive us back into darkness where we don't have to look at the horrors of sin we live with that's a trick of Satan- letting us 'feel' better about life and ourselves when we look back to the darkness and find comfort in our sins thinking it's just 'easier' that way. It might be easier and feel better but the end of it is death everlasting without any hope of glory, the only true happiness and true love we have to look forward to, a life, a love Christ promises to us in Him, by His grace.
Amen.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
We need to determine to live for God, with God now and always, forever.
Psalms
{119:25} My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
{119:26} I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
{119:27} Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
{119:28} My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
{119:29} Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
{119:30} I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me.
]{119:31} I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
{119:32} I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
**
My soul cleaveth unto the dust- a human being is made of the dust of the ground.
Genesis
{2:6} But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
{2:7} And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life
and man became a living soul.
**
Formed of the dust of the ground, life breathed into us. The two combined create a living soul.
'My soul cleaveth to the dust'
'Quicken thou me according to thy word'
The word of God bring us life. We can have breath in us and be living, but life everlasting is only through the word of God, through Jesus.
'I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.'
God hear us. God wants us to speak to Him. God wants us to declare ourselves to him, our intentions, our ways. He hears us and we need Him to teach us and He has. He's given us His statutes.
'Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.'
Understanding enlightens us so that we can't help but speak of God's wondrous works.
'My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.'
How can we not feel the weight of life, of the the war we are in - good vs. evil? We need the strength of God in Jesus.
'Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.'
The way of lying. And lying is so easy to do. We do it daily to others and to ourselves, as well as God. Lying. Yes, we need the way of lying removed from us. We need the law of God in our lives. The law wrought of love, the law of God and our gracious Lord, we need that law written on our hearts.
'I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me.'
We need to choose the way of truth. Choose truth. Choose...truth. We need to put God's ways before us as we live. Our day to day life is to be lived with God's ways before us.
'I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.'
See, we have to live our lives unto God now and always, and trust in the Lord, that it will all be according to His will and we won't be put to shame.
'I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.'
We must live in God's love, in His law, in His way and God will cause the love within us to multiply, to grow, to enlarge.
God's love.
God's law.
God's way.
We need to determine to live for God, with God now and always, forever.
{119:25} My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
{119:26} I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
{119:27} Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
{119:28} My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
{119:29} Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
{119:30} I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me.
]{119:31} I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
{119:32} I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
**
My soul cleaveth unto the dust- a human being is made of the dust of the ground.
Genesis
{2:6} But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
{2:7} And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life
and man became a living soul.
**
Formed of the dust of the ground, life breathed into us. The two combined create a living soul.
'My soul cleaveth to the dust'
'Quicken thou me according to thy word'
The word of God bring us life. We can have breath in us and be living, but life everlasting is only through the word of God, through Jesus.
'I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.'
God hear us. God wants us to speak to Him. God wants us to declare ourselves to him, our intentions, our ways. He hears us and we need Him to teach us and He has. He's given us His statutes.
'Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.'
Understanding enlightens us so that we can't help but speak of God's wondrous works.
'My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.'
How can we not feel the weight of life, of the the war we are in - good vs. evil? We need the strength of God in Jesus.
'Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.'
The way of lying. And lying is so easy to do. We do it daily to others and to ourselves, as well as God. Lying. Yes, we need the way of lying removed from us. We need the law of God in our lives. The law wrought of love, the law of God and our gracious Lord, we need that law written on our hearts.
'I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me.'
We need to choose the way of truth. Choose truth. Choose...truth. We need to put God's ways before us as we live. Our day to day life is to be lived with God's ways before us.
'I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.'
See, we have to live our lives unto God now and always, and trust in the Lord, that it will all be according to His will and we won't be put to shame.
'I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.'
We must live in God's love, in His law, in His way and God will cause the love within us to multiply, to grow, to enlarge.
God's love.
God's law.
God's way.
We need to determine to live for God, with God now and always, forever.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The truth is God's love, now and forever.
Truth in Psalms
{98:3} He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of
Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our
God.
**
Remembered his MERCY and his TRUTH.
ALL the ends of the earth have seen the SALVATION of our God.
Mercy, truth, salvation.
It is mercy and truth that give us salvation.
Jesus is the embodiment of mercy and truth, our salvation.
You can't have salvation without mercy and truth, it's impossible. Mercy and truth given to us from God, gifts from God just as salvation is.
Eph. {2:8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
There is a beauty to the salvation of God, a beauty we can't deny. Just as we hear touching heroic tales of sacrifice and love, tales that have us moved to tears, this too is a true tale that should move us all to tears, glorying in the promise and gifts of the Lord. He loves us, He is love. Without the mercy and truth of God there would be no love at all, none.
Life without love. The hollow emptiness, the despair that being loveless brings has destroyed many people. Loveless. Many people sink into depression at the thought of not finding *true* love. Scores of songs are written about love. More cocky, bold people write songs about not needing love. Others find it *cool* to be independent and above needing love, being that cold-hearted baddie and yet they seek adoration in that stance as well. Adoration a form of love. There are many forms of love- those forms we even say aren't because we want to deny it. Then again- there are many warped ideas of love that have nothing to do with love at all. We tend to *want* love in a very selfish way. We want to be adored exclusively. We want love to fulfil a need in us and we seek for love in many ways. God alone offers love in the way we really need and we could spend an entire life time seeking and finding various forms of love and be satisifed over and over, but it won't last. The satisfaction is short lived, in the end only God's love remains stedfast and true, unfailing, everlasting.
The truth is God's love, now and forever.
{100:5} For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations
We need God's love, God's truth, God's mercy.
God, heavenly Father, Lord of all in heaven and earth, please bless us and teach us your love, to be loved by You, to know love, to be loving.
Amen.
{98:3} He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of
Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our
God.
**
Remembered his MERCY and his TRUTH.
ALL the ends of the earth have seen the SALVATION of our God.
Mercy, truth, salvation.
It is mercy and truth that give us salvation.
Jesus is the embodiment of mercy and truth, our salvation.
You can't have salvation without mercy and truth, it's impossible. Mercy and truth given to us from God, gifts from God just as salvation is.
Eph. {2:8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
There is a beauty to the salvation of God, a beauty we can't deny. Just as we hear touching heroic tales of sacrifice and love, tales that have us moved to tears, this too is a true tale that should move us all to tears, glorying in the promise and gifts of the Lord. He loves us, He is love. Without the mercy and truth of God there would be no love at all, none.
Life without love. The hollow emptiness, the despair that being loveless brings has destroyed many people. Loveless. Many people sink into depression at the thought of not finding *true* love. Scores of songs are written about love. More cocky, bold people write songs about not needing love. Others find it *cool* to be independent and above needing love, being that cold-hearted baddie and yet they seek adoration in that stance as well. Adoration a form of love. There are many forms of love- those forms we even say aren't because we want to deny it. Then again- there are many warped ideas of love that have nothing to do with love at all. We tend to *want* love in a very selfish way. We want to be adored exclusively. We want love to fulfil a need in us and we seek for love in many ways. God alone offers love in the way we really need and we could spend an entire life time seeking and finding various forms of love and be satisifed over and over, but it won't last. The satisfaction is short lived, in the end only God's love remains stedfast and true, unfailing, everlasting.
The truth is God's love, now and forever.
{100:5} For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations
We need God's love, God's truth, God's mercy.
God, heavenly Father, Lord of all in heaven and earth, please bless us and teach us your love, to be loved by You, to know love, to be loving.
Amen.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
They received not the love of the truth...
Psalms {96:13} Before the LORD
for he cometh
for he cometh to judge the earth
he shall judge the world with righteousness
and the people with his truth.
His truth will be our judge.
We are judged. The entire world is judged and the standard by which He judges is His righteousness and His truth.
We have laws we are judged by. We break a law, we are arrested, we go to court where we are judged for our crime. Once we are judged we are sentenced. Then...the sentence has to be carried out.
The earth, the world, the people will be judged and yet we don't generally act as if we are being judged.
Romans {2:11} For there is no respect of persons with God.
{2:12} For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:
and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
{2:13} (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God,
but the doers of the law shall be justified.
{2:14} For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
{2:15} Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts,
their conscience also bearing witness,
and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
{2:16} In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Do you understand what that is saying?
I'm not sure if I do, but I'm going to give it a go.
We are all the same to God as individuals. We all make choices during our lives whether we have a law such as the Children of Israel were giving. Gentiles, Jews, we all have a law that is in our conscience. A sense of right and wrong formed by our choices from the time we are old enough to begin making choices and make no mistake that's pretty young. That sense of doing wrong isn't always taught, it lives within us and we nurture it or we suppress it. People don't like being wrong so sometimes they try to make the wrong seem right and acceptable, once it seems that way it's not so hard to do wrong. We have a history in our world of making the wrong right and calling it acceptable because it allows us to live to our base nature. Yet inwardly we know, we might laugh and ignore the right and wrong voice inside us, we might give it no regard, we might shut it out and want to be left alone completely but it exists for us all.
We talk about God knowing the heart, knowing the inward spirit in each of us and it's true.
'For when the Gentiles, which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law'
The law is wrought out of love.
Jesus revealed it by saying it's summed up in two laws- loving God and loving Man.
The law is love.
When people by nature keep the law- loving God and Man- and they are judged they'll be judged righteous by the standard set by Jesus Christ. We can't make the mistake of thinking that God doesn't know the inward man. We can't believe that people aren't given the knowledge where by they can be saved. We are all given it, every single person.
Doing the law by nature, loving by nature or loving by choice as we are given the law, it's all wrought in Jesus. It's accepting Jesus Christ's sacrifice, His love, His life. He is love and we have to choose love.
2 Thess. '{2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth [will let,]
until he be taken out of the way.
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed,
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
{2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.
They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.
We need to choose love and in that love is the truth, in that love is Jesus Christ our saving grace.
We can choose to ask God to reveal our inward hearts and let Him work in us to show us where we need to choose right from wrong, ask that our eyes be opened, our hearts to be open, we need to accept the chastising of the Lord. We can't choose to wear spiritual blinders and expect to embrace the truth.
May God help us all by the grace of His Son.
Psalms {96:13} Before the LORD
for he cometh
for he cometh to judge the earth
he shall judge the world with righteousness
and the people with his truth.
Amen.
for he cometh
for he cometh to judge the earth
he shall judge the world with righteousness
and the people with his truth.
His truth will be our judge.
We are judged. The entire world is judged and the standard by which He judges is His righteousness and His truth.
We have laws we are judged by. We break a law, we are arrested, we go to court where we are judged for our crime. Once we are judged we are sentenced. Then...the sentence has to be carried out.
The earth, the world, the people will be judged and yet we don't generally act as if we are being judged.
Romans {2:11} For there is no respect of persons with God.
{2:12} For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:
and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
{2:13} (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God,
but the doers of the law shall be justified.
{2:14} For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
{2:15} Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts,
their conscience also bearing witness,
and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
{2:16} In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Do you understand what that is saying?
I'm not sure if I do, but I'm going to give it a go.
We are all the same to God as individuals. We all make choices during our lives whether we have a law such as the Children of Israel were giving. Gentiles, Jews, we all have a law that is in our conscience. A sense of right and wrong formed by our choices from the time we are old enough to begin making choices and make no mistake that's pretty young. That sense of doing wrong isn't always taught, it lives within us and we nurture it or we suppress it. People don't like being wrong so sometimes they try to make the wrong seem right and acceptable, once it seems that way it's not so hard to do wrong. We have a history in our world of making the wrong right and calling it acceptable because it allows us to live to our base nature. Yet inwardly we know, we might laugh and ignore the right and wrong voice inside us, we might give it no regard, we might shut it out and want to be left alone completely but it exists for us all.
We talk about God knowing the heart, knowing the inward spirit in each of us and it's true.
'For when the Gentiles, which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law'
The law is wrought out of love.
Jesus revealed it by saying it's summed up in two laws- loving God and loving Man.
The law is love.
When people by nature keep the law- loving God and Man- and they are judged they'll be judged righteous by the standard set by Jesus Christ. We can't make the mistake of thinking that God doesn't know the inward man. We can't believe that people aren't given the knowledge where by they can be saved. We are all given it, every single person.
Doing the law by nature, loving by nature or loving by choice as we are given the law, it's all wrought in Jesus. It's accepting Jesus Christ's sacrifice, His love, His life. He is love and we have to choose love.
2 Thess. '{2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth [will let,]
until he be taken out of the way.
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed,
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
{2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.
They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.
We need to choose love and in that love is the truth, in that love is Jesus Christ our saving grace.
We can choose to ask God to reveal our inward hearts and let Him work in us to show us where we need to choose right from wrong, ask that our eyes be opened, our hearts to be open, we need to accept the chastising of the Lord. We can't choose to wear spiritual blinders and expect to embrace the truth.
May God help us all by the grace of His Son.
Psalms {96:13} Before the LORD
for he cometh
for he cometh to judge the earth
he shall judge the world with righteousness
and the people with his truth.
Amen.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Taught the way of Jesus
Truth in Psalms.
We continue to go through the Psalms of David studying the word- truth.
There are exacts in life, and the truth is an exact. The truth is factual not abstract. You can't make the truth bend to your own ideas. The truth isn't changed from one day to the next subject to outside forces. There is the truth and there is nothing else. I know people would argue that one person could believe one thing and that is their truth, another a different thing and that is their truth, but there is only one truth in God, a single truth. Jesus. Long before Jesus came as man to walk the earth the truth in Him existed.
Ps. {86:11} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth.
**
How are we to walk? And in walking- live? We are to walk in truth--
Micah {4:5} For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will WALK IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
Zechariah {3:7} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt WALK IN MY WAYS, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Luke {1:6} And they were both righteous before God, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD BLAMELESS.
John {12:35} Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. WALK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. {12:36} While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
Romans {6:4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
Romans {8:1} [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, but after the Spirit.
Romans {8:4} That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, but after the Spirit.
2 Cor. {5:7} For we WALK BY FAITH, not by sight
2 Cor. {6:16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, and WALK IN THEM and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Gal. {5:16} [This] I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us WALK IN THE SPIRIT
Eph. {2:10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should WALK IN THEM.
**
Jesus is the truth, faith, newness of life, spirit, light, good works, the commandments.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Living in that truth is something we all need to do.
Ps. {86:11} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth.
We need to be taught the way of Jesus.
Once again we're back to talking about life after we accept Christ as our Savior, the fact that we have to walk in Jesus. We accept Jesus and we have to walk in Him, live in Him, be taught His ways. There is an effort involved- living. Our day to day actions matter, our lives matter, what we do matters it really does. It won't save us, we don't have the power to save ourselves, but we have the power to choose our actions, the power to choose how we live life. Even in the most dire of circumstances we have the power to choose how we respond to the circumstances. Yes, sometimes we feel like we're out of control- hormones or illness ravaging us and making us feel like we have little control over the grumpiness, the anger, the sadness we feel. Those situations are real and they do affect how we act, but no matter the outside influence of the body we can make choices. You read heroic tales of people keeping their spirits up as they endure torture and other horrifying things, and you read of those who succumb to the horrors. You read of traitors who give in as they suffer just to end their pain, and then you read of others who endure unto death rather than give in. Choices. We all have to make them and it's something we can't get away without doing on a daily basis. Oh I know I've written about this before but it keeps coming up for me so maybe it's me just trying to make this more a reality for me, a truth for me, a walk for me. This is a blog I started to put my daily Bible studies in with little thought to cohesion. Those of you reading this, if any, I hope that there is something of value here for you, if not I'm sorry- I'm no Bible scholar, no preacher, or teacher, just me seeking a closer walk with God striving to study and learn, to grasp hold of God in this way hoping that my life will be a walk with Him, in Him someday, by the grace of Jesus, by His mercy and His love now and always.
We continue to go through the Psalms of David studying the word- truth.
There are exacts in life, and the truth is an exact. The truth is factual not abstract. You can't make the truth bend to your own ideas. The truth isn't changed from one day to the next subject to outside forces. There is the truth and there is nothing else. I know people would argue that one person could believe one thing and that is their truth, another a different thing and that is their truth, but there is only one truth in God, a single truth. Jesus. Long before Jesus came as man to walk the earth the truth in Him existed.
Ps. {86:11} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth.
**
How are we to walk? And in walking- live? We are to walk in truth--
Micah {4:5} For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will WALK IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
Zechariah {3:7} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt WALK IN MY WAYS, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Luke {1:6} And they were both righteous before God, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD BLAMELESS.
John {12:35} Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. WALK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. {12:36} While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.
Romans {6:4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
Romans {8:1} [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, but after the Spirit.
Romans {8:4} That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, but after the Spirit.
2 Cor. {5:7} For we WALK BY FAITH, not by sight
2 Cor. {6:16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, and WALK IN THEM and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Gal. {5:16} [This] I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us WALK IN THE SPIRIT
Eph. {2:10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should WALK IN THEM.
**
Jesus is the truth, faith, newness of life, spirit, light, good works, the commandments.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Living in that truth is something we all need to do.
Ps. {86:11} Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth.
We need to be taught the way of Jesus.
Once again we're back to talking about life after we accept Christ as our Savior, the fact that we have to walk in Jesus. We accept Jesus and we have to walk in Him, live in Him, be taught His ways. There is an effort involved- living. Our day to day actions matter, our lives matter, what we do matters it really does. It won't save us, we don't have the power to save ourselves, but we have the power to choose our actions, the power to choose how we live life. Even in the most dire of circumstances we have the power to choose how we respond to the circumstances. Yes, sometimes we feel like we're out of control- hormones or illness ravaging us and making us feel like we have little control over the grumpiness, the anger, the sadness we feel. Those situations are real and they do affect how we act, but no matter the outside influence of the body we can make choices. You read heroic tales of people keeping their spirits up as they endure torture and other horrifying things, and you read of those who succumb to the horrors. You read of traitors who give in as they suffer just to end their pain, and then you read of others who endure unto death rather than give in. Choices. We all have to make them and it's something we can't get away without doing on a daily basis. Oh I know I've written about this before but it keeps coming up for me so maybe it's me just trying to make this more a reality for me, a truth for me, a walk for me. This is a blog I started to put my daily Bible studies in with little thought to cohesion. Those of you reading this, if any, I hope that there is something of value here for you, if not I'm sorry- I'm no Bible scholar, no preacher, or teacher, just me seeking a closer walk with God striving to study and learn, to grasp hold of God in this way hoping that my life will be a walk with Him, in Him someday, by the grace of Jesus, by His mercy and His love now and always.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Mercy and truth are met together
Ps. {57:3} He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
**
Send from heaven.
Save from the reproach of him that would swallow us up.
God will send forth his mercy and his truth.
2 Tim. {1:18} The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.
**
Mercy of the Lord.
Jesus brought mercy with Him from heaven.
John {14:6} Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
**
The truth.
Jesus brought truth with Him from heaven.
Ps. {57:3} He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
God did send His mercy and His truth, He sent us Jesus, His Son.
****
Ps. {57:9} I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
{57:10} For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
{57:11} Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.
Mercy, truth!
Ps. {69:13} But as for me, my prayer [is] unto thee, O LORD, [in] an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
The multitude of thy mercy.
The truth of thy salvation.
{85:8} I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
{85:9} Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
{85:10} Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
{85:11} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
{85:12} Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.
{85:13} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.
**
How beautiful- righteousness and peace have kiss each other.
Mercy and truth are met together.
They're all intertwined. Mercy, truth, righteousness and peace.
Let them not turn again to folly.
We have a choice always. Salvation is ours but so is damnation. We make that choice no one makes it for us. We have to honor God, to love Him, to give Him the reverence due to Him as our creator, our savior. Salvation is close to those who love Him, to those who give Him the reverence He deserves.
People want to forget about the turning from their follies part. The part where *they* have to do something. They hear that we can't do works to be saved and so they glory in their sins thinking that to abandon them is a work and that they are working to get salvation.
Turning from our follies, turning from our sins isn't a work to obtain salvation. It is a choice we make knowing that sin is hated by the One we love.
If we love another person and we know they hate something- we don't do it out of love for them. Are we perfect when we try not to do these things those we love hate? Not always, sometimes we fail and then we have to try all over again and not because they'll stop loving us, but because we love them and don't want to hurt them.
Sin is an enmity against God.
God hates sin.
Sin separates us from God.
When we love God and receive salvation through the mercy and grace of His Son Jesus we too hate sin, the part of us that is one with God, our spiritual side. Sin will tempt us, sin offers gratifications for the present, no one can deny that sin is something insidious and yet something we find ourselves committing over and over again.
We have to turn from our follies, from our sins, not embrace them, not glory in them, recognize that they are a barrier between us and God, something hateful and to be despised. Turning from them won't save us, only Jesus can save us, but out of love we turn from them.
Psalms
{85:8} I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
{85:9} Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
{85:10} Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
{85:11} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
{85:12} Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.
{85:13} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Jesus is all truth, all mercy in Him is all righteousness and peace.
May God help us to accept the love of Jesus into our hearts, to ask for forgiveness and accept the grace and mercy He alone offers. May we offer up our lives to Him, and seek to turn from our sins, from our follies and towards Him and Him alone, through His grace, through His strength and righteousness...
Amen!
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
**
Send from heaven.
Save from the reproach of him that would swallow us up.
God will send forth his mercy and his truth.
2 Tim. {1:18} The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.
**
Mercy of the Lord.
Jesus brought mercy with Him from heaven.
John {14:6} Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
**
The truth.
Jesus brought truth with Him from heaven.
Ps. {57:3} He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
God did send His mercy and His truth, He sent us Jesus, His Son.
****
Ps. {57:9} I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
{57:10} For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
{57:11} Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.
Mercy, truth!
Ps. {69:13} But as for me, my prayer [is] unto thee, O LORD, [in] an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
The multitude of thy mercy.
The truth of thy salvation.
{85:8} I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
{85:9} Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
{85:10} Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
{85:11} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
{85:12} Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.
{85:13} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.
**
How beautiful- righteousness and peace have kiss each other.
Mercy and truth are met together.
They're all intertwined. Mercy, truth, righteousness and peace.
Let them not turn again to folly.
We have a choice always. Salvation is ours but so is damnation. We make that choice no one makes it for us. We have to honor God, to love Him, to give Him the reverence due to Him as our creator, our savior. Salvation is close to those who love Him, to those who give Him the reverence He deserves.
People want to forget about the turning from their follies part. The part where *they* have to do something. They hear that we can't do works to be saved and so they glory in their sins thinking that to abandon them is a work and that they are working to get salvation.
Turning from our follies, turning from our sins isn't a work to obtain salvation. It is a choice we make knowing that sin is hated by the One we love.
If we love another person and we know they hate something- we don't do it out of love for them. Are we perfect when we try not to do these things those we love hate? Not always, sometimes we fail and then we have to try all over again and not because they'll stop loving us, but because we love them and don't want to hurt them.
Sin is an enmity against God.
God hates sin.
Sin separates us from God.
When we love God and receive salvation through the mercy and grace of His Son Jesus we too hate sin, the part of us that is one with God, our spiritual side. Sin will tempt us, sin offers gratifications for the present, no one can deny that sin is something insidious and yet something we find ourselves committing over and over again.
We have to turn from our follies, from our sins, not embrace them, not glory in them, recognize that they are a barrier between us and God, something hateful and to be despised. Turning from them won't save us, only Jesus can save us, but out of love we turn from them.
Psalms
{85:8} I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
{85:9} Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
{85:10} Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
{85:11} Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
{85:12} Yea, the LORD shall give [that which is] good; and our land shall yield her increase.
{85:13} Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set [us] in the way of his steps.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Jesus is all truth, all mercy in Him is all righteousness and peace.
May God help us to accept the love of Jesus into our hearts, to ask for forgiveness and accept the grace and mercy He alone offers. May we offer up our lives to Him, and seek to turn from our sins, from our follies and towards Him and Him alone, through His grace, through His strength and righteousness...
Amen!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
No other truth out there
Horror/fantasy preview-
"We promise! We promise! We swear!"
The screams were deafening, the cry of the multitude, all of them looking skyward while with terror filling their faces. Eyes bulging, mouths contorted, the horror filled them with fear unlike any fear they had ever felt before.
"WE PROMISE!"
And from the sky- thick with roiling black clouds, brilliant with lightening bolts blazing their almighty fiery torches everywhere, there came the thundering reply of acceptance.
The covenant was struck. The deal was sealed. The contract was binding. The people were saved.
Falling down where they stood, the people covering their heads with their arms, relief flowing through them. The worst was over.
Or was it...
The horror/fantasy movie recap-
Evil oppressors fill the land holding a multitude captive. A hero ruled by a supernatural force frees the people taking them away from their oppressors. The newly freed people commence on a perilous journey filled with the evil oppressors attempts to enslave them once more. With their enslavers thwarted they journey on until they come to the supernatural mount where the hero reveals that their freedom comes with conditions. The conditions however begin with the knowledge that they are free to choose either to accept the conditions or go about with their lives on their own risking enslavement once more, only the hero will no longer fight for them if they choose to live on their own.
The former slaves are fearful of being on their own without the hero's protection. They've witnessed the workings of the hero using the supernatural and know that it's best to hear the conditions out. Deciding that as long as the conditions aren't something detrimental to them, making them worse off than being with their previous oppressors, they'd accept them.
Gathering around the mountain of the hero's supernatural power, quickly the power is revealed in all its magnificence. A storm filled with thunder and lightening descends on the mountain as the people look on. This wasn't the first time the people had seen the power at work, they'd seen it as they were freed from their oppressors only now they are face to face with the source of the hero's power and it is terrifying them!
Pleading with the hero, asking him to intercede on their behalf and speak with the supernatural being for them, they continue to shake in fear, in awe of this force before them. The hero agrees and goes up into the storm of the mountain, fearless.
Finally the hero returns and tells them all the supernatural power demands from them and quickly the people agree to it all. There was nothing in the demands about being slaves to the supernatural power, nothing about feeling the whip of the supernatural being upon their backs day after day as they live in bondage. The supernatural being promises them a new life, a life filled with no more oppression and each of the demands the power is making upon them is for them and their own good! It's amazing! It's a dream come true! Of course they'll agree to such demands they'd be fools not to.
Peace filled the people and their new lives were to begin with their hero going to the supernatural being and receiving ALL the instructions they'd need for their new lives.
In a fairy tale the words, 'and they lived happily ever after', right here with the movie coming to an end would be perfect. Unfortunately the words are never uttered and in their place leading to the sequel of the tale are these words...
'And while the hero communed with the supernatural force, the newly freed people quickly grew restless and decided that all the demands they'd agreed to with the supernatural being weren't really meant to be kept. Some of the old ways of their oppressors were now theirs to use, and the ways of their former oppressors are all against the supernatural being demands. Breaking the newly established covenant could only have a dire outcome, look for part two in this continuing saga.'
What in the world does all this have to do with Bible study? With God?
Only that it's a true story, based on reality and truth, not fictional at all.
The Lord promised so much to the children of Israel and all He promised, all He said was truth.
Let's read as Joshua speaks to the children of Israel about this situation--
Joshua
{23:14} And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you;
**
Not ONE thing failed that the Lord God told the children of Israel, not ONE thing.
{23:14} ...all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
{23:15} Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
**
Wait! What?! Why?!
{23:16} When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
**
That explains it doesn't it?
The truth is... we have choice God, and His covenant or life without God and that life without God has no happy ending.
It didn't have a happy ending then, and it won't in the future either.
All God says is true.
All God reveals comes to pass.
People make the mistake of thinking that the Bible is just a storybook without truth to support it, but history supports the prophecies inside the Bible. History is a testament to it's truth and the truth is, without the saving grace of God there is no hope. In accepting the saving grace of God we accept a new way of life, a life that will be slowly altered to be a life that will make heaven a place we long to live not mere fairy tale.
Eph. {4:17} 'This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, {4:18} Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {4:19} Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. {4:20} But ye have not so learned Christ; {4:21} If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: {4:22} That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {4:23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {4:24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'
Learned of Christ- the truth is in Jesus! Put off concerning the old man...be renewed in the spirit...put on the new man.
The truth.
Jesus is the truth.
And satan fills the earth with his lies deceiving all but those with such a love for the truth, for Jesus; those saved by His grace and alive to His righteousness.
May God help us all, we live in perilous times. Cling to Jesus...cling to the Savior's grace and mercy for there is no other truth out there, none.
Amen.
"We promise! We promise! We swear!"
The screams were deafening, the cry of the multitude, all of them looking skyward while with terror filling their faces. Eyes bulging, mouths contorted, the horror filled them with fear unlike any fear they had ever felt before.
"WE PROMISE!"
And from the sky- thick with roiling black clouds, brilliant with lightening bolts blazing their almighty fiery torches everywhere, there came the thundering reply of acceptance.
The covenant was struck. The deal was sealed. The contract was binding. The people were saved.
Falling down where they stood, the people covering their heads with their arms, relief flowing through them. The worst was over.
Or was it...
The horror/fantasy movie recap-
Evil oppressors fill the land holding a multitude captive. A hero ruled by a supernatural force frees the people taking them away from their oppressors. The newly freed people commence on a perilous journey filled with the evil oppressors attempts to enslave them once more. With their enslavers thwarted they journey on until they come to the supernatural mount where the hero reveals that their freedom comes with conditions. The conditions however begin with the knowledge that they are free to choose either to accept the conditions or go about with their lives on their own risking enslavement once more, only the hero will no longer fight for them if they choose to live on their own.
The former slaves are fearful of being on their own without the hero's protection. They've witnessed the workings of the hero using the supernatural and know that it's best to hear the conditions out. Deciding that as long as the conditions aren't something detrimental to them, making them worse off than being with their previous oppressors, they'd accept them.
Gathering around the mountain of the hero's supernatural power, quickly the power is revealed in all its magnificence. A storm filled with thunder and lightening descends on the mountain as the people look on. This wasn't the first time the people had seen the power at work, they'd seen it as they were freed from their oppressors only now they are face to face with the source of the hero's power and it is terrifying them!
Pleading with the hero, asking him to intercede on their behalf and speak with the supernatural being for them, they continue to shake in fear, in awe of this force before them. The hero agrees and goes up into the storm of the mountain, fearless.
Finally the hero returns and tells them all the supernatural power demands from them and quickly the people agree to it all. There was nothing in the demands about being slaves to the supernatural power, nothing about feeling the whip of the supernatural being upon their backs day after day as they live in bondage. The supernatural being promises them a new life, a life filled with no more oppression and each of the demands the power is making upon them is for them and their own good! It's amazing! It's a dream come true! Of course they'll agree to such demands they'd be fools not to.
Peace filled the people and their new lives were to begin with their hero going to the supernatural being and receiving ALL the instructions they'd need for their new lives.
In a fairy tale the words, 'and they lived happily ever after', right here with the movie coming to an end would be perfect. Unfortunately the words are never uttered and in their place leading to the sequel of the tale are these words...
'And while the hero communed with the supernatural force, the newly freed people quickly grew restless and decided that all the demands they'd agreed to with the supernatural being weren't really meant to be kept. Some of the old ways of their oppressors were now theirs to use, and the ways of their former oppressors are all against the supernatural being demands. Breaking the newly established covenant could only have a dire outcome, look for part two in this continuing saga.'
What in the world does all this have to do with Bible study? With God?
Only that it's a true story, based on reality and truth, not fictional at all.
The Lord promised so much to the children of Israel and all He promised, all He said was truth.
Let's read as Joshua speaks to the children of Israel about this situation--
Joshua
{23:14} And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you;
**
Not ONE thing failed that the Lord God told the children of Israel, not ONE thing.
{23:14} ...all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
{23:15} Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
**
Wait! What?! Why?!
{23:16} When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
**
That explains it doesn't it?
The truth is... we have choice God, and His covenant or life without God and that life without God has no happy ending.
It didn't have a happy ending then, and it won't in the future either.
All God says is true.
All God reveals comes to pass.
People make the mistake of thinking that the Bible is just a storybook without truth to support it, but history supports the prophecies inside the Bible. History is a testament to it's truth and the truth is, without the saving grace of God there is no hope. In accepting the saving grace of God we accept a new way of life, a life that will be slowly altered to be a life that will make heaven a place we long to live not mere fairy tale.
Eph. {4:17} 'This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, {4:18} Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {4:19} Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. {4:20} But ye have not so learned Christ; {4:21} If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: {4:22} That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {4:23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {4:24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'
Learned of Christ- the truth is in Jesus! Put off concerning the old man...be renewed in the spirit...put on the new man.
The truth.
Jesus is the truth.
And satan fills the earth with his lies deceiving all but those with such a love for the truth, for Jesus; those saved by His grace and alive to His righteousness.
May God help us all, we live in perilous times. Cling to Jesus...cling to the Savior's grace and mercy for there is no other truth out there, none.
Amen.
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