Matt. {6:7} But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. {6:8} Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Praying just to pray is in vain.
Having a set prayer is not good. Maybe a set prayer time is all fine and good, the Israelites would have morning and evening prayers, others were known to pray three times a day. Some were praying often. We are even told to pray always.
Eph. {6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
The times of praying can be set without consequence I believe, but having a formal set prayer you pray over and over and over by rote we are told isn't good.
'But when ye pray, use NOT vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.'
Much speaking, if you speak long enough you'll be heard isn't true. A whispered prayer spoken once can be heard sooner than a prayer that is spoken loudly over and over. God knows our needs, and it's not that we don't have to pray and ask Him for things, petition Him as it were, but He knows our needs and no amount of pleading and begging, no amount of repetition will matter.
Either by praying by rote - which is something done and not felt, or praying and asking something over and over - being annoying and showing lack of faith, neither one of them are much good and if we get caught up in the trap thinking that we are pious by our much praying and repetitive praying we're not praying as God would have us pray.
Jesus says do not use vain repetitions, do not believe that such praying is the answer. We don't have a deaf God like all the heathen do. We have a living God and He hears us, He knows us. Our God, our Heavenly Father knows us and what we need. We are praying to a living God, the one and only true God. Our prayers must come from the heart.
Jesus goes on to tell us how to pray-- read the Lord's prayer, it's a famous prayer in fact it's one we learn by heart and pray as a prayer just in the manner Jesus tells us not to. 'But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions.' That doesn't just mean saying the same thing over and over and over, it means praying without making that connection we need to make to our living God, the connection that tells us that He hears us, He knows us, He loves us.
No, I'm not saying we shouldn't say the Lord's Prayer, it was given us for an example and as such we should pray it, use it to guide us, but above all- not use it in vain repetition.
May the Lord bless us and keep us, helping us to seek Him as He would be sought. By His will, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
'Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom'
Proerbs {2:10} When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; {2:11} Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: {2:12} To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things.
Job {28:12} But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? {28:13} Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job {28:20} Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? {28:21} Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job {28:23} God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. {28:24} For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.
Job {28:28} And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Prov. {1:7} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov. {2:6} For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
We need to understand, we need knowledge more now than ever before, we need to fear the Lord.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes fear this way- 'Fear- a feeling of reverance, awe, and respect, or an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger. (page 379)
To Fear the Lord we should show reverance, awe, and respect to God.
Nelson's Dictionary again to show the meaning of 'Reverance'- a feeling of profound awe and respect. Because of His majesty and holiness, God arouses a feeling of reverance in those who worship and serve Him.' (page 916)
Heb. {12:28} Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
**
James {1:5} If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. {1:6} But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Exodus {28:1} And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. {28:2} And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. {28:3} And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
'Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom'
Please Lord... fill me with the spirit of wisdom. Please Lord, I'm asking in faith- believing and trusting in you to help my unbelief.
By Your Mercy.
Amen.
Job {28:12} But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? {28:13} Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Job {28:20} Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? {28:21} Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job {28:23} God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. {28:24} For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.
Job {28:28} And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Prov. {1:7} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov. {2:6} For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
We need to understand, we need knowledge more now than ever before, we need to fear the Lord.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes fear this way- 'Fear- a feeling of reverance, awe, and respect, or an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger. (page 379)
To Fear the Lord we should show reverance, awe, and respect to God.
Nelson's Dictionary again to show the meaning of 'Reverance'- a feeling of profound awe and respect. Because of His majesty and holiness, God arouses a feeling of reverance in those who worship and serve Him.' (page 916)
Heb. {12:28} Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
**
James {1:5} If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. {1:6} But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Exodus {28:1} And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. {28:2} And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. {28:3} And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
'Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom'
Please Lord... fill me with the spirit of wisdom. Please Lord, I'm asking in faith- believing and trusting in you to help my unbelief.
By Your Mercy.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thy Will Be Done
Ps. {40:8} I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.
Ps. {143:10} Teach me to do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Matt. {6:10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven
Matt. {26:42} He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Luke {11:2} And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Heb. {10:5} Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law; {10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. {10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all. ]
*******
I delight to do thy will oh my God, yea thy law is withing my heart.
Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God they spirit is good lead me into the land of the uprightness.
He went away again the second time and prayed saying oh my Father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done.
When ye pray...Our Father which art in heave hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven so in earth.
Jesus came to do God's will, delighting in His Father's will.
Jesus became the sacrifice for us so that we would no longer have to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
The greatest sacrifice of all was made and nothing could compare to the ultimate sacrifice.
Every single sacrifice made was pointing to the ultimate sacrifice. When a person sinned and brought an offering to be sacrificed, a death to be made on their behalf it was of an animal and symbolic of the fact sinning warrants death and there is no getting around that, none. You sin, you deserve death unless you confess and repent offering a death in your place. The offering of an animal's death was sufficent only because God accepted it but it wasn't enough, it represented the ultimate sacrifice He made when His son took on humanity and offered himself, His death was made for all of us.
Maybe we'd think twice before sinning if we had to kill an animal. Or maybe it would be just a way of life to us so that the animal's death wouldn't be so bad- not like we might consider it today, or some of us. There are hunters today that think nothing of killing rabbit, deer, quail, duck, squirrels etc. It's sport to them. Then there are butchers who slaughter animals for us to eat, there are farmers who grow livestock knowing it's all for food. More animal death that means little, it's done as a matter of fact and an every day occurance. So maybe if someone told those who have no ick factor in killing animals that all they had to do was kill an animal every time they sinned and confess their sins, repenting, it wouldn't be all that hard for them to do. But for a lot of us it wouldn't be a way of life and we might realize more the weight of our sin causing death.
Now while a lot of various people in various professions and hobbies kill animals it's safe to say the majority do not kill people.
Those who do kill people are those in the army on active duty, police officers in the line of duty, murderers, and all those who accidentally kill another. Of all those only the murderers do so without the remorse, or at least we'd like to think that. Not that we want those who kill in the line of duty to be consumed by guilt, but it's nice to at least believe there is a twinge of remorse for their hands being forced into killing in the line of duty.
Sinning warrants sacrifice.
Sinners were given the greatest sacrifice in Jesus. Jesus wouldn't have had to die if we didn't sin. We killed Him. Our sin killed Him.
If we had to nail Jesus to the cross ourselves would we feel the true weight of our sins?
If we had to look upon His broken and bruised, His bloody body, witness to His agony and then add to that pain until He was killed by us, would it make a difference?
God's will be done.
Our will is so caught up in selfishness, by the very words- our will - we esteem ourselves, our finite, sin-filled selves to have a will greater than God's.
In all our lives it must be prayed, and it must be believed- 'Thy will be done.' It must be prayed and without clauses such as, Thy will be done but let me understand how Your will works, why this, that, and the other thing has to be so Your will is done. We can't expect to understand but we have to take that leap of faith and believe that God's will is truly best and beyond our comprehension.
God- Thy will be done now and forever and any tears I cry because I cannot understand the will of Yours that allows for so much pain please Lord they are not shed because I don't want Your will to be done, but simply because the pain now even temporarily is so real. You see the end from the beginning and I place my trust in You Lord because I see only now, I live only now with hopes for life eternal in You. In an existence that has expelled sin from the world and there is no more pain- physical, mental, or emotional.
Thy will be done.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, forgive me.
Amen.
Ps. {143:10} Teach me to do thy will; for thou [art] my God: thy spirit [is] good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Matt. {6:10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven
Matt. {26:42} He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Luke {11:2} And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Heb. {10:5} Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law; {10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. {10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all. ]
*******
I delight to do thy will oh my God, yea thy law is withing my heart.
Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God they spirit is good lead me into the land of the uprightness.
He went away again the second time and prayed saying oh my Father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done.
When ye pray...Our Father which art in heave hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven so in earth.
Jesus came to do God's will, delighting in His Father's will.
Jesus became the sacrifice for us so that we would no longer have to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
The greatest sacrifice of all was made and nothing could compare to the ultimate sacrifice.
Every single sacrifice made was pointing to the ultimate sacrifice. When a person sinned and brought an offering to be sacrificed, a death to be made on their behalf it was of an animal and symbolic of the fact sinning warrants death and there is no getting around that, none. You sin, you deserve death unless you confess and repent offering a death in your place. The offering of an animal's death was sufficent only because God accepted it but it wasn't enough, it represented the ultimate sacrifice He made when His son took on humanity and offered himself, His death was made for all of us.
Maybe we'd think twice before sinning if we had to kill an animal. Or maybe it would be just a way of life to us so that the animal's death wouldn't be so bad- not like we might consider it today, or some of us. There are hunters today that think nothing of killing rabbit, deer, quail, duck, squirrels etc. It's sport to them. Then there are butchers who slaughter animals for us to eat, there are farmers who grow livestock knowing it's all for food. More animal death that means little, it's done as a matter of fact and an every day occurance. So maybe if someone told those who have no ick factor in killing animals that all they had to do was kill an animal every time they sinned and confess their sins, repenting, it wouldn't be all that hard for them to do. But for a lot of us it wouldn't be a way of life and we might realize more the weight of our sin causing death.
Now while a lot of various people in various professions and hobbies kill animals it's safe to say the majority do not kill people.
Those who do kill people are those in the army on active duty, police officers in the line of duty, murderers, and all those who accidentally kill another. Of all those only the murderers do so without the remorse, or at least we'd like to think that. Not that we want those who kill in the line of duty to be consumed by guilt, but it's nice to at least believe there is a twinge of remorse for their hands being forced into killing in the line of duty.
Sinning warrants sacrifice.
Sinners were given the greatest sacrifice in Jesus. Jesus wouldn't have had to die if we didn't sin. We killed Him. Our sin killed Him.
If we had to nail Jesus to the cross ourselves would we feel the true weight of our sins?
If we had to look upon His broken and bruised, His bloody body, witness to His agony and then add to that pain until He was killed by us, would it make a difference?
God's will be done.
Our will is so caught up in selfishness, by the very words- our will - we esteem ourselves, our finite, sin-filled selves to have a will greater than God's.
In all our lives it must be prayed, and it must be believed- 'Thy will be done.' It must be prayed and without clauses such as, Thy will be done but let me understand how Your will works, why this, that, and the other thing has to be so Your will is done. We can't expect to understand but we have to take that leap of faith and believe that God's will is truly best and beyond our comprehension.
God- Thy will be done now and forever and any tears I cry because I cannot understand the will of Yours that allows for so much pain please Lord they are not shed because I don't want Your will to be done, but simply because the pain now even temporarily is so real. You see the end from the beginning and I place my trust in You Lord because I see only now, I live only now with hopes for life eternal in You. In an existence that has expelled sin from the world and there is no more pain- physical, mental, or emotional.
Thy will be done.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, forgive me.
Amen.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A man should rejoice in his own works
Eccl. {3:22} Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better,
than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is
his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be
after him?
Rejoicing in your work.
Solomon, the wisest of the wise professed that there is nothing better than rejoicing in your own works. No wonder so many people aren't very happy. How many have jobs they can rejoice in? Or is it being able to rejoice no matter what that work is? And even if we aren't talking strictly about what we consider work these days, the 8 hour, 5 days a week position we are in to earn money to afford to live, but rather our lives in general. Our day to day existence is what we have, it's all we have, it is our portion. We won't see what is to come after us. We can't worry about tomorrow so to speak. We have to rejoice in the here and now. We have to rejoice in the life we have. If we sit about wishing we were in a different life- constantly wishing for things to be different in such a way that they are impossible to change, what good is there in that? If you can change something in your life to make it better, do it. If you can't you need to learn to rejoice in what you do have in your life. To do otherwise, to not rejoice in your portion, your works is to live unhappily and that's not good for anyone.
'Nothing better than a man should rejoice in his own works for that is his portion.'
We all have our portion in life. Some have longer portions, some have portions we perceive are much better than our own, and still others have portions that are much worse. Regardless of what anyone else has, we all have our own existence. We don't know what sort of lives our furture generations will have. If we're lucky we watch our children grow up and lead happy lives. We might see our grandchildren do the same and then we might even get to see our great grandchildren begin their own lives of happiness but seldom does it stretch far beyond that for any of us, not that it can't but it grows more rare as time passes that you will see your great, great grandchildren become adults, and even less so great, great, great grandchildren. So while you might get to see glimpses of the future generations, there comes a time in every person's life without exception where death will be their portion. Death- a return to the dust we've come from as God takes back the breath He gave to us. Death, not another life to sit back and watch all that goes on with the living. Death, not an existence that gives us a whole new portion to rejoice in. No. Death isn't another form of life in any way at all. Death is a sleep as Lazarus- one brought back from the dead knew. Death is a sleep from which there is no waking until Christ returns. If people live their lives now not rejoicing in their works, in their portion given to them and pin their hopes on life after death, there is no real hope at all. Life is just that... life. And death is just that...death.
We need to live and rejoice now as we place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to raise us from the death sleep when He returns and we are changed and brought to live new lives without any sort of pain and heartache, grief and sorrow this life affords us stealing the rejoicing from us that there is nothing better than a man doing.
Contentment in our lives, rejoicing in the portion given to us. May God help us find this place that Solomon speaks of, may we cling to Jesus Christ our Savior and place our hope in Him as we live today as He would have us live.
In His ever merciful name.
Amen.
than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is
his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be
after him?
Rejoicing in your work.
Solomon, the wisest of the wise professed that there is nothing better than rejoicing in your own works. No wonder so many people aren't very happy. How many have jobs they can rejoice in? Or is it being able to rejoice no matter what that work is? And even if we aren't talking strictly about what we consider work these days, the 8 hour, 5 days a week position we are in to earn money to afford to live, but rather our lives in general. Our day to day existence is what we have, it's all we have, it is our portion. We won't see what is to come after us. We can't worry about tomorrow so to speak. We have to rejoice in the here and now. We have to rejoice in the life we have. If we sit about wishing we were in a different life- constantly wishing for things to be different in such a way that they are impossible to change, what good is there in that? If you can change something in your life to make it better, do it. If you can't you need to learn to rejoice in what you do have in your life. To do otherwise, to not rejoice in your portion, your works is to live unhappily and that's not good for anyone.
'Nothing better than a man should rejoice in his own works for that is his portion.'
We all have our portion in life. Some have longer portions, some have portions we perceive are much better than our own, and still others have portions that are much worse. Regardless of what anyone else has, we all have our own existence. We don't know what sort of lives our furture generations will have. If we're lucky we watch our children grow up and lead happy lives. We might see our grandchildren do the same and then we might even get to see our great grandchildren begin their own lives of happiness but seldom does it stretch far beyond that for any of us, not that it can't but it grows more rare as time passes that you will see your great, great grandchildren become adults, and even less so great, great, great grandchildren. So while you might get to see glimpses of the future generations, there comes a time in every person's life without exception where death will be their portion. Death- a return to the dust we've come from as God takes back the breath He gave to us. Death, not another life to sit back and watch all that goes on with the living. Death, not an existence that gives us a whole new portion to rejoice in. No. Death isn't another form of life in any way at all. Death is a sleep as Lazarus- one brought back from the dead knew. Death is a sleep from which there is no waking until Christ returns. If people live their lives now not rejoicing in their works, in their portion given to them and pin their hopes on life after death, there is no real hope at all. Life is just that... life. And death is just that...death.
We need to live and rejoice now as we place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to raise us from the death sleep when He returns and we are changed and brought to live new lives without any sort of pain and heartache, grief and sorrow this life affords us stealing the rejoicing from us that there is nothing better than a man doing.
Contentment in our lives, rejoicing in the portion given to us. May God help us find this place that Solomon speaks of, may we cling to Jesus Christ our Savior and place our hope in Him as we live today as He would have us live.
In His ever merciful name.
Amen.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Freedom's Servant
1 Corinthians {9:19} For though I be
free from all yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
*******
Though I be free from all.
Being free is not being enslaved, not being in debt to anyone. As a slave to another we are compelled by that slavery to serve another or many others. We are forced to do so by circumstances. When we are forced into doing something that is one thing provoking us into action. Voluntarily acting without being forced is a whole new matter. A Christian is any person that takes on Christ's life as their own, Christ's words live in them, in their hearts. Christ was the greatest servant of all and He was the One who least had to be. As God on earth He could have demanded worship and He demanded nothing. He served all and the love He received in return was all He needed. We who claim to follow Christ must also be servants of all, freely giving of ourselves without thought to ourselves and whatever we may gain from any good we do. If we do good for gain we in reality gain nothing, if we are truly servants of all we gain more than we can imagine.
*
John {8:33} They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and
were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye
shall be made free? {8:34} Jesus answered them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin. {8:35} And the servant abideth not in the
house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
*******
If Jesus makes us free we are free indeed. Only through Jesus do we find freedom. Any other freedom is a falsehood. Self deception is something we commit all the time, in fact whenever we feel any self-worth outside of the love of Jesus we are deceived. Only through the grace and mercy of Jesus can we be free of the shakles of sin that weight us down and keep us deceived. God first always. God's will be done, not our will. Easy to say, hard to do and yet it is surrendering our will to His that only makes all things possible. Freedom lies within our service to God, to others. When we seek self less we find so much more than we could ever imagine.
*
Matt. {15:7} [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you,
saying, {15:8} This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is
far from me. {15:9} But in vain they do worship me,
teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
*******
Eloquence is overrated isn't it? The smooth talkers deceive so many with words so pretty and deceptive. Too numerous to count are those who have been seduced by someone who could speak in such a way that they compel the hearer to do as they willed. Those who compel others to believe in their beliefs rather than God are guilty, they sin against God. They may say wonderful things but their hearts are filled with self and only self, not with God at all. Only God should fill our hearts. It's better if we do not speak at all than to speak with cold, empty hearts. God knows our hearts, he knows when we speak sincerely.
By the grace of God may we keep Him forever before us, forever in our hearts and may we speak out of a heart of love finding freedom in Him and only in Him, servant to all.
All glory and praise to God in heaven. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!
Amen!
free from all yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
*******
Though I be free from all.
Being free is not being enslaved, not being in debt to anyone. As a slave to another we are compelled by that slavery to serve another or many others. We are forced to do so by circumstances. When we are forced into doing something that is one thing provoking us into action. Voluntarily acting without being forced is a whole new matter. A Christian is any person that takes on Christ's life as their own, Christ's words live in them, in their hearts. Christ was the greatest servant of all and He was the One who least had to be. As God on earth He could have demanded worship and He demanded nothing. He served all and the love He received in return was all He needed. We who claim to follow Christ must also be servants of all, freely giving of ourselves without thought to ourselves and whatever we may gain from any good we do. If we do good for gain we in reality gain nothing, if we are truly servants of all we gain more than we can imagine.
*
John {8:33} They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and
were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye
shall be made free? {8:34} Jesus answered them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin. {8:35} And the servant abideth not in the
house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
*******
If Jesus makes us free we are free indeed. Only through Jesus do we find freedom. Any other freedom is a falsehood. Self deception is something we commit all the time, in fact whenever we feel any self-worth outside of the love of Jesus we are deceived. Only through the grace and mercy of Jesus can we be free of the shakles of sin that weight us down and keep us deceived. God first always. God's will be done, not our will. Easy to say, hard to do and yet it is surrendering our will to His that only makes all things possible. Freedom lies within our service to God, to others. When we seek self less we find so much more than we could ever imagine.
*
Matt. {15:7} [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you,
saying, {15:8} This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is
far from me. {15:9} But in vain they do worship me,
teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
*******
Eloquence is overrated isn't it? The smooth talkers deceive so many with words so pretty and deceptive. Too numerous to count are those who have been seduced by someone who could speak in such a way that they compel the hearer to do as they willed. Those who compel others to believe in their beliefs rather than God are guilty, they sin against God. They may say wonderful things but their hearts are filled with self and only self, not with God at all. Only God should fill our hearts. It's better if we do not speak at all than to speak with cold, empty hearts. God knows our hearts, he knows when we speak sincerely.
By the grace of God may we keep Him forever before us, forever in our hearts and may we speak out of a heart of love finding freedom in Him and only in Him, servant to all.
All glory and praise to God in heaven. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!
Amen!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Dust to Dust - A Change Will Come
Job {12:10} In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Job {13:15} Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job {14:7} For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job {14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
{14:13} Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! {14:14} If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
*******
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
Who brings to life all that there is? Who created the creatures of the earth? Who gave them breath? Was man even alive before God breathed into him the breath of life? No. Man was a mere shell formed of the dust of the ground. Man returns to dust upon death, the breath God gives goes back to Him.
Eccl. {12:7} Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
We can witness this everytime someone or something dies. We can witness the decay of it and into what it eventually becomes. The process isn't instantaneous but it is inevitable if left untampered with by chemicals and processes and such created to keep the flesh from returning to dust. Was there hope in the Egyptians of defying death if their bodies weren't allowed to decay? That some how they lived on until they were actually dust once more? Did they seek to mummify their dead because it was a way to prolong life to them. Not life as we know it but not death as we are told we would be- dust to dust.
Eccl. {3:20} All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again
Gen. {18:27} And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes
Only by the grace of God do we have breath of life in us and when it is taken from us it goes back to Him that gave it and we become dust and ashes once more. There is no living on without the breath of life within us. The body can be preserved for thousands of years and it will be lifeless, a husk, and empty shell. And even so, a mummified body is only that way by extenuating circumstances- skill, nature of ice, tar and such. Once the breath is gone what gave man life is gone.
Job {14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
The beauty of death lies in this passage. Job longing for this sleep, this rest to rid himself of the agony of life and yet he knew his life was in God's hand and he could not take the breath from himself and still claim to be God's. The breath of life is God's to give and to take and we can't presume to do His will for Him, to know God.
People talk about others on respirators keeping them alive, giving them breath and there is nothing wrong with that because it has been proven time and time again that eventually for one reason or another they will still stop living and the false breath that keeps their bodies taking in air can no more keep them alive. No one put on a respirator has lived forever. No one. They may have lived for years and years beyond what they normally would have, but they did not and have not, and will not ever live forever.
When the heavens are no more, then our change will come. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye those who are dead in Christ will rise and be changed, those who are alive at this time will be lifted up and changed.
1 Cor. 15, 1 Thess. 4
A change will come to us then, but until that day we live by the will of God and we die by the will of God, and we trust that He knows all and while our understanding is very limited, His is all powerful and even without any understanding we believe and we say-- God's will be done.
All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior, by His grace and mercy we have hope, we have life.
Amen.
Job
{12:1} And Job answered and said,
{12:2} No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
{12:3} But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
{12:4} I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
{12:5} He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
{12:6} The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
{12:7} But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
{12:8} Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
{12:9} Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
{12:10} In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
{12:11} Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
{12:12} With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
{12:13} With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
{12:14} Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
{12:15} Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
{12:16} With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
{12:17} He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
{12:18} He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
{12:19} He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
{12:20} He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
{12:21} He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
{12:22} He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
{12:23} He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
{12:24} He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
{12:25} They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
{13:1} Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
{13:2} What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
{13:3} Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
{13:4} But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
{13:5} Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
{13:6} Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
{13:7} Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
{13:8} Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
{13:9} Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
{13:10} He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
{13:11} Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
{13:12} Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
{13:13} Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
{13:14} Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
{13:15} Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
{13:16} He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
{13:17} Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
{13:18} Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
{13:19} Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
{13:20} Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
{13:21} Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
{13:22} Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
{13:23} How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
{13:24} Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
{13:25} Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
{13:26} For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
{13:27} Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. {13:28} And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
{14:1} Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
{14:2} He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
{14:3} And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
{14:4} Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
{14:5} Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
{14:6} Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
{14:7} For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
{14:8} Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
{14:9} Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
{14:10} But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
{14:11} As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
{14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
{14:13} Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
{14:14} If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
{14:15} Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
{14:16} For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
{14:17} My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
{14:18} And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
{14:19} The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
{14:20} Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
{14:21} His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
{14:22} But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
Job {13:15} Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job {14:7} For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job {14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
{14:13} Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! {14:14} If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
*******
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
Who brings to life all that there is? Who created the creatures of the earth? Who gave them breath? Was man even alive before God breathed into him the breath of life? No. Man was a mere shell formed of the dust of the ground. Man returns to dust upon death, the breath God gives goes back to Him.
Eccl. {12:7} Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
We can witness this everytime someone or something dies. We can witness the decay of it and into what it eventually becomes. The process isn't instantaneous but it is inevitable if left untampered with by chemicals and processes and such created to keep the flesh from returning to dust. Was there hope in the Egyptians of defying death if their bodies weren't allowed to decay? That some how they lived on until they were actually dust once more? Did they seek to mummify their dead because it was a way to prolong life to them. Not life as we know it but not death as we are told we would be- dust to dust.
Eccl. {3:20} All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again
Gen. {18:27} And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes
Only by the grace of God do we have breath of life in us and when it is taken from us it goes back to Him that gave it and we become dust and ashes once more. There is no living on without the breath of life within us. The body can be preserved for thousands of years and it will be lifeless, a husk, and empty shell. And even so, a mummified body is only that way by extenuating circumstances- skill, nature of ice, tar and such. Once the breath is gone what gave man life is gone.
Job {14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
The beauty of death lies in this passage. Job longing for this sleep, this rest to rid himself of the agony of life and yet he knew his life was in God's hand and he could not take the breath from himself and still claim to be God's. The breath of life is God's to give and to take and we can't presume to do His will for Him, to know God.
People talk about others on respirators keeping them alive, giving them breath and there is nothing wrong with that because it has been proven time and time again that eventually for one reason or another they will still stop living and the false breath that keeps their bodies taking in air can no more keep them alive. No one put on a respirator has lived forever. No one. They may have lived for years and years beyond what they normally would have, but they did not and have not, and will not ever live forever.
When the heavens are no more, then our change will come. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye those who are dead in Christ will rise and be changed, those who are alive at this time will be lifted up and changed.
1 Cor. 15, 1 Thess. 4
A change will come to us then, but until that day we live by the will of God and we die by the will of God, and we trust that He knows all and while our understanding is very limited, His is all powerful and even without any understanding we believe and we say-- God's will be done.
All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior, by His grace and mercy we have hope, we have life.
Amen.
Job
{12:1} And Job answered and said,
{12:2} No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
{12:3} But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
{12:4} I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
{12:5} He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
{12:6} The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
{12:7} But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
{12:8} Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
{12:9} Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
{12:10} In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
{12:11} Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
{12:12} With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
{12:13} With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
{12:14} Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
{12:15} Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
{12:16} With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
{12:17} He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
{12:18} He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
{12:19} He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
{12:20} He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
{12:21} He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
{12:22} He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
{12:23} He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
{12:24} He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
{12:25} They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
{13:1} Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
{13:2} What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
{13:3} Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
{13:4} But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
{13:5} Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
{13:6} Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
{13:7} Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
{13:8} Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
{13:9} Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
{13:10} He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
{13:11} Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
{13:12} Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
{13:13} Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
{13:14} Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
{13:15} Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
{13:16} He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
{13:17} Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
{13:18} Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
{13:19} Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
{13:20} Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
{13:21} Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
{13:22} Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
{13:23} How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
{13:24} Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
{13:25} Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
{13:26} For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
{13:27} Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. {13:28} And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
{14:1} Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
{14:2} He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
{14:3} And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
{14:4} Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
{14:5} Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
{14:6} Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
{14:7} For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
{14:8} Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
{14:9} Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
{14:10} But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
{14:11} As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
{14:12} So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
{14:13} Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
{14:14} If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
{14:15} Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
{14:16} For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
{14:17} My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
{14:18} And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
{14:19} The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
{14:20} Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
{14:21} His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
{14:22} But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Excerpts from Notebook 1983
Excerpts from Notebook 1983
Excerpts from 1983
Proverbs {1:22} How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs {1:29} For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD
Job {21:7} Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Job {21:14} Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Ps. {50:16} But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy
mouth?
{50:17} Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Prov. {2:1} My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; {2:2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; {2:3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; {2:4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; {2:5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
***
What do we cry out for in our lives? When we have troubles what to we ache and long for to solve those troubles? More money, understanding? Do we wish the problems and those causing them away from our lives taking their problems with them? How often do you cry out for understanding? For knowledge? And how often during this heartfelt longing to you cry out and all the while believe that there is no understanding? That there is nothing that can help? Do we often give up before we even utter the first cry? We want simple answers, instant answers and if for one moment someone told you that the only answer is to wait the first response to that is- I don't want to wait, I want my answer now! I'm hurting, I'm troubled, I'm upset now! All I see is despair and more pain during that waiting, nothing more.
With our defeatist attitudes, with the belief that there is no real answer and that suffering is our lot in life, are we really searching for understanding and knowledge as if we were seeking a treasure? Seriously, are we? If someone told you that you could find a treasure and here is a map and instructions, you'd most likely (assuming you trust the person) do all you could do to find that treasure. Treasure hunters go to great length to get their treasures, they don't just pop up on their own waving their arms saying here I am come and get me. Those digging for treasure, those seraching for treasures often find themselves in situations that are unthinkable and yet they delve into them because they're hoping for that great reward.
God may not fix your problems if all you're doing is crying out for an instant fix, but if your heart is sincere and you are seeking Him as you would a treasure you will find a reward. Knowing God is the greatest treasure of all.
Prov. {2:1} My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; {2:2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; {2:3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; {2:4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; {2:5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
How do we seek God, to know Him? We have a book from God and this book contains many answers to our problems yet do we open it with awe at what we may find within? Do we read each word as God speaking to us, instructing us? God's word should mean so much to us and yet how often do you find yourself delving into it seeking knowledge and understanding? Most believe it a book of antiquity, meant to be read but not believed. Meant to be known but not made a real force in our lives.
Reading the Bible will not save you. Jesus alone can save. Reading the Bible is a privlege, an honor we have received from God.
We must really study for knowledge and understanding as we cry out for *things* to solve our problems. If we knew the answers were there to be found wouldn't we put our all into finding them? If someone told you they had the answers you'd pester them until they gave them to you. If there were an envelope before you containing answers you'd rip it open to read them. The truth is we live in this world and the answer is- we are not of this world. The answers we seek might not be for our lives right now. We might not be shown how to get rich quick, or how to comprehend a partner we're having trouble understanding, or find help with a child who is seeming to go astray. We will find answers, we will find knowledge and understanding of the fear of God and that is knowledge of the eternal, everlasting knowledge.
Matt. {6:33} But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. {6:34} Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
True you might go hungry, homeless, feel helpless while seeking the kingdom of God first, but the kingdom of God is everlasting, our problems here and now are not.
**
May the Lord Bless and keep us, guide us into all knowledge and give us all the understanding we need to be closer and closer to Him so that we may know Him and He know us. By the righteousness of Christ our Lord and Savior, by His mercy and His grace we pray.
Amen.
Excerpts from 1983
Proverbs {1:22} How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs {1:29} For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD
Job {21:7} Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Job {21:14} Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Ps. {50:16} But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy
mouth?
{50:17} Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
Prov. {2:1} My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; {2:2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; {2:3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; {2:4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; {2:5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
***
What do we cry out for in our lives? When we have troubles what to we ache and long for to solve those troubles? More money, understanding? Do we wish the problems and those causing them away from our lives taking their problems with them? How often do you cry out for understanding? For knowledge? And how often during this heartfelt longing to you cry out and all the while believe that there is no understanding? That there is nothing that can help? Do we often give up before we even utter the first cry? We want simple answers, instant answers and if for one moment someone told you that the only answer is to wait the first response to that is- I don't want to wait, I want my answer now! I'm hurting, I'm troubled, I'm upset now! All I see is despair and more pain during that waiting, nothing more.
With our defeatist attitudes, with the belief that there is no real answer and that suffering is our lot in life, are we really searching for understanding and knowledge as if we were seeking a treasure? Seriously, are we? If someone told you that you could find a treasure and here is a map and instructions, you'd most likely (assuming you trust the person) do all you could do to find that treasure. Treasure hunters go to great length to get their treasures, they don't just pop up on their own waving their arms saying here I am come and get me. Those digging for treasure, those seraching for treasures often find themselves in situations that are unthinkable and yet they delve into them because they're hoping for that great reward.
God may not fix your problems if all you're doing is crying out for an instant fix, but if your heart is sincere and you are seeking Him as you would a treasure you will find a reward. Knowing God is the greatest treasure of all.
Prov. {2:1} My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; {2:2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; {2:3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; {2:4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; {2:5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
How do we seek God, to know Him? We have a book from God and this book contains many answers to our problems yet do we open it with awe at what we may find within? Do we read each word as God speaking to us, instructing us? God's word should mean so much to us and yet how often do you find yourself delving into it seeking knowledge and understanding? Most believe it a book of antiquity, meant to be read but not believed. Meant to be known but not made a real force in our lives.
Reading the Bible will not save you. Jesus alone can save. Reading the Bible is a privlege, an honor we have received from God.
We must really study for knowledge and understanding as we cry out for *things* to solve our problems. If we knew the answers were there to be found wouldn't we put our all into finding them? If someone told you they had the answers you'd pester them until they gave them to you. If there were an envelope before you containing answers you'd rip it open to read them. The truth is we live in this world and the answer is- we are not of this world. The answers we seek might not be for our lives right now. We might not be shown how to get rich quick, or how to comprehend a partner we're having trouble understanding, or find help with a child who is seeming to go astray. We will find answers, we will find knowledge and understanding of the fear of God and that is knowledge of the eternal, everlasting knowledge.
Matt. {6:33} But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. {6:34} Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
True you might go hungry, homeless, feel helpless while seeking the kingdom of God first, but the kingdom of God is everlasting, our problems here and now are not.
**
May the Lord Bless and keep us, guide us into all knowledge and give us all the understanding we need to be closer and closer to Him so that we may know Him and He know us. By the righteousness of Christ our Lord and Savior, by His mercy and His grace we pray.
Amen.
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