Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
These words jumped out at me- Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.
Do you like to retain God in your knowledge? Seriously do you? Do I? Do we? What does it mean to retain God in our knowledge?
The verse reads even as they... who are the they?
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools
The 'they' are those who when they knew God- they glorified him not as God...professing themselves to be wise they became fools. The 'they' are those who have the chance to know God and even in knowing Him they choose not to give God the glory due to Him. Anyone who knows God and chooses not to glorify him is a fool.
'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' The they are any of us that don't choose to retrain God in our knowledge. We fill our lives with all sorts of things, all kinds of knowledge. We increase our knowledge of characters on a television screen, we increase our knowledge of fictional beings in books, we increase our knowledge in our ability to play games, we don't ever stop learning. Daily our knowledge is increasing even when we don't imagine that it is and can say with all assumed honesty that we didn't learn anything yesterday. In truth all your actions of the day before gave you knowledge. Were you sick and just laid in bed all day moaning in misery? Did you learn anything then? You learned to appreciate feeling better that much more. It's a simple thing but a lot of our learning is just that, simple and done without us even recognizing it as learning. Our lives are one learning experience after another. Our lives are made up of the sum of our learning experiences. Even those who seeming never learn from their mistakes, are learning but choosing not to avail themselves of the knowledge they've acquired. We live and in doing so we are learning the two go hand in hand. I'm not saying that everyone who lives is a scholar of great magnitude, I'm not saying everyone obtains a degree but we are constantly learning even if our lives seem to be utter failures. This part of the verse that jumped out at me...'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' it jumped out at me for a reason. Often as we go about life acquiring knowledge we make choices on what we wish to retain. We focus on one thing over another, we let certain things become more important to us than other things. When a person chooses NOT to like to retain God in their knowledge they are choosing to abandon what they know of God. Just as we all learn right from wrong as we grow up, we can choose whether or not we like to retain the knowledge of right and wrong and if we choose to like the knowledge of wrong doing over right doing our lives will reflect that. What we like to retain in our minds sets a course for our lives. Anyone who chooses not to like retaining God in their knowledge is setting a course away from God and without God we have no hope for eternal life, no hope for redemption.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
God gave them over to a reprobate mind...God allows those who don't like to retain knowledge of Him to do the things that they want to do, God will NOT force anyone to believe on Him. God will not force anyone to like to retain knowledge of Him. We make the choice ourselves whether or not we like to retain God in our knowledge. In choosing to like to retain God in our knowledge we are keeping Him ever in our minds and ever before us as the supreme being in our lives even before ourselves. We are giving God rule over us and living for Him, not for ourselves. We like to retain God in our knowledge, keeping God in our lives forever. Read further on about those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them
God giving them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient- one or all or these can be symptoms of those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge but would rather He never existed to confound their lives.
Unrighteousness
Fornication
Wickedness
Covetousness
Maliciousness
Full of envy
Murder
Debate
Deceit
Malignity
Whisperers
Backbiters
Haters of God
Despiteful
Proud
Boasters
Inventors of evil things
Disobedient to parents
Without understanding
Covenantbreakers
Without natural affection
Implacable
Unmerciful
That's a long list of things isn't it? Chances are we might find ourselves in there somewhere, does that mean we aren't among those who like to retain the knowledge of God? No, but it should give us pause to seek the Lord and a much closer walk with Him so that we aren't taken over by any of those things. We will always struggle as long as Satan is there to tempt us. We are flesh and spirit and Satan will go after our fleshy side for as long as we live. The Apostle Paul called himself a wretched man who warred within himself. We are the same, we will war within ourselves and that's a good thing. It's when the warring ceases we might want to do a double check. Christ alone can save us through His righteousness. We have to keep Him forever before us. We have to like retaining the knowledge of God in our lives so that we aren't given over to a reprobate mind. By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we always and forever like to retain God in our knowledge, in all our knowing, know Him first and foremost. Through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Amen.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Mar 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
How would God have us think?
Do you ever feel as if you don't quite fit in the world the way it is? Seriously, I'm not asking so I can point a finger at you and shout 'Crazy person!' We weren't created to live as we do, and as we strive to make sense of life and our place in it we can't be happy if we don't feel as if we fit in the way we should. A strange concept isn't it? To be happy if you don't fit in.
We strive so much to fit in, to be right with the world around us. We strive to live our lives in such a way things seem to be right with all we do. Unfortunately there are as many ways that seem right to us as there are people in existence. We don't often see eye to eye. Even within our immediate families there is a constant (albeit lessened) sense of not always seeing eye to eye.
Friction. We live our lives filled with friction with one another and the varying perceptions of things we all have. Finding two people who agree on a mostly consistent basis is a rare thing- they usually become friends, but as we ALL know even the best of friends have falling outs. You've heard the saying I'm all right you're all wrong haven't you? It's the way we feel on a constant basis, we are right-- my opinions, my feelings, my way of thinking is somehow more right than yours-- but it's not. We are all striving to fit in, each of our minds holding thoughts unique to us and those thoughts don't always mesh with another's thoughts.
How would God have us think, or not think?
Mat 10:34 THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye THINK NOT the Son of man cometh.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will THINK that he doeth God service.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought NOT TO THINK that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, THINK it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
*
There are some really interesting and very enlightening scriptures here. I want to point out a few that pertain more to what I was talking about than others--
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We want to think more highly of ourselves than we should don't we? A lot of times we really do. We want to think we're *all that* and more. Our egos can sometimes grow so huge we constantly trip over them. We THINK more highly than we ought to and that gets us into trouble doesn't it? Seriously we have to note this don't we? When we begin to think we are something very special in and of ourselves outside of God's realm and God's control we are in grave danger. Grave danger meaning we are at risk of offending God by placing ourselves before Him. We have to take ourselves down a few notches and realize we are creations and by the grace of our Creator we have been given life and allowed the opportunity to surrender those lives to God.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
We love to spout out our knowledge don't we? The words- 'I know' are very common to our tongues. I know this and I know that and I most certainly know all about the other thing. Pay attention to your words if you can and just try to note how often you say those two words- 'I know.' Loving God is much more important than knowing anything else at all. Loving God is everything. It's better for us to be known as one who loves God rather than be known as the one who knows of anything else.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
We are told what to think on and it certainly isn't ourselves and our own knowledge. We are to think on the true things, the honest things, the just things, the pure things, the lovely things, the things of good report, of virtues and praise. How would our lives truly be if we did this? Think about it for a long moment. Our minds get so caught up in things that depress us and drag us down into ourselves. Our minds dwell on ourselves and our emotions at the moment. Our minds get wrapped up in the cares of this life so easily. We need to ask ourselves what we should be thinking, especially when we begin to think on things that are ungodly and things that take us away not towards the Lord. If for just tomorrow you woke up and told yourself that today by the grace of God you are going to think on things that are lovely and then tried to pull your thoughts towards the lovely things of God wouldn't it be great if it made a difference in your life, even a small difference because even a small difference when that difference is directed towards a life in God is a difference that matters whole a lot.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our thinking what He would have it be now and forever.
Amen.
Sabbath Blessings!
We strive so much to fit in, to be right with the world around us. We strive to live our lives in such a way things seem to be right with all we do. Unfortunately there are as many ways that seem right to us as there are people in existence. We don't often see eye to eye. Even within our immediate families there is a constant (albeit lessened) sense of not always seeing eye to eye.
Friction. We live our lives filled with friction with one another and the varying perceptions of things we all have. Finding two people who agree on a mostly consistent basis is a rare thing- they usually become friends, but as we ALL know even the best of friends have falling outs. You've heard the saying I'm all right you're all wrong haven't you? It's the way we feel on a constant basis, we are right-- my opinions, my feelings, my way of thinking is somehow more right than yours-- but it's not. We are all striving to fit in, each of our minds holding thoughts unique to us and those thoughts don't always mesh with another's thoughts.
How would God have us think, or not think?
Mat 10:34 THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye THINK NOT the Son of man cometh.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will THINK that he doeth God service.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought NOT TO THINK that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, THINK it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
*
There are some really interesting and very enlightening scriptures here. I want to point out a few that pertain more to what I was talking about than others--
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We want to think more highly of ourselves than we should don't we? A lot of times we really do. We want to think we're *all that* and more. Our egos can sometimes grow so huge we constantly trip over them. We THINK more highly than we ought to and that gets us into trouble doesn't it? Seriously we have to note this don't we? When we begin to think we are something very special in and of ourselves outside of God's realm and God's control we are in grave danger. Grave danger meaning we are at risk of offending God by placing ourselves before Him. We have to take ourselves down a few notches and realize we are creations and by the grace of our Creator we have been given life and allowed the opportunity to surrender those lives to God.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
We love to spout out our knowledge don't we? The words- 'I know' are very common to our tongues. I know this and I know that and I most certainly know all about the other thing. Pay attention to your words if you can and just try to note how often you say those two words- 'I know.' Loving God is much more important than knowing anything else at all. Loving God is everything. It's better for us to be known as one who loves God rather than be known as the one who knows of anything else.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
We are told what to think on and it certainly isn't ourselves and our own knowledge. We are to think on the true things, the honest things, the just things, the pure things, the lovely things, the things of good report, of virtues and praise. How would our lives truly be if we did this? Think about it for a long moment. Our minds get so caught up in things that depress us and drag us down into ourselves. Our minds dwell on ourselves and our emotions at the moment. Our minds get wrapped up in the cares of this life so easily. We need to ask ourselves what we should be thinking, especially when we begin to think on things that are ungodly and things that take us away not towards the Lord. If for just tomorrow you woke up and told yourself that today by the grace of God you are going to think on things that are lovely and then tried to pull your thoughts towards the lovely things of God wouldn't it be great if it made a difference in your life, even a small difference because even a small difference when that difference is directed towards a life in God is a difference that matters whole a lot.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our thinking what He would have it be now and forever.
Amen.
Sabbath Blessings!
Exercised by Chastening
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Exercised by chastening.
Our biggest hope as parents is that our children learn from their mistakes and sometimes even learn from the mistakes we've made so they don't have to go through the pain that making mistakes can bring. We need to learn from any chastening the Lord sends our way. If we don't learn then we will reap the rewards of not taking the lessons given to us by God. Being chastened by God isn't pleasant, it's a horrible experience, an experience that rips at our hearts and souls sending us into many a tailspin. The chastening is grievous and we can relate to that because we know what it feels like to be chastened by our parents or caregivers as we do wrong and need the chastening. Can you think of at least one incident of chastening in your life that you learned from? Sometimes we have a moment when we do something and we know in that moment of reckoning we vow to never do that thing again so that we don't have to experience the pain of being chastened. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. God wants to chasten us so that we learn and from that learning we will experience the peace of Christ's righteousness. We HAVE to open our hearts to God's chastening. Our first instinct is to run, to hide, to bury the pain, to do anything to get the horrible pain of chastening out of our lives. However sometimes we embrace the chastening to readily letting ourselves wallow in the pain of the chastening without learning from it. We get caught up in the wallowing and live our lives right there in the despair and pain without being exercised by it at all. We cry out why me?! And we keep crying that out daily. Christ cried out for God to take the cup from Him, but did so by saying not His own will be done, but God's. Our will isn't to suffer, but sometimes the suffering is for a reason beyond our comprehension and we have to let go and let God work His will in us and by His grace and guidance pray that we can be exercised by the chastening we suffer.
We have to lift up our hands when all they want to do is hang low and wallow. We have to take our feeble knees and lift them up high when all we want to do is fall down upon them and yes...wallow in our misery. We have to make a straight path for our feet and that path is Christ's path and keep on that path so that we will be healed. If we don't keep on God's path our entire lives will be lame, useless, the wallowing will consume us fully.
We must have peace with ALL men.
We must have holiness with ALL men.
We have to look and not just glance but really look hard for Christ in our lives so that we don't fail of the grace of God.
We have to make sure NO bitterness fills us and it will try, it will try very hard to consume us. Bitterness is an enemy of God it overshadows hope, it kills faith. We can't let bitterness take over our lives and it will try very hard to do so. Depression is a form of hopelessness and can lead to bitterness, we have to lift up our hands and knees, we have to make our paths straight, we have to follow peace and holiness with all others and we will see God because it's through God this is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we cling to Christ even when we don't understand any of what is going on in our lives, even when the horrors of live assail us. By the Holy Spirit may we live grasping hold of Christ's righteousness now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Exercised by chastening.
Our biggest hope as parents is that our children learn from their mistakes and sometimes even learn from the mistakes we've made so they don't have to go through the pain that making mistakes can bring. We need to learn from any chastening the Lord sends our way. If we don't learn then we will reap the rewards of not taking the lessons given to us by God. Being chastened by God isn't pleasant, it's a horrible experience, an experience that rips at our hearts and souls sending us into many a tailspin. The chastening is grievous and we can relate to that because we know what it feels like to be chastened by our parents or caregivers as we do wrong and need the chastening. Can you think of at least one incident of chastening in your life that you learned from? Sometimes we have a moment when we do something and we know in that moment of reckoning we vow to never do that thing again so that we don't have to experience the pain of being chastened. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. God wants to chasten us so that we learn and from that learning we will experience the peace of Christ's righteousness. We HAVE to open our hearts to God's chastening. Our first instinct is to run, to hide, to bury the pain, to do anything to get the horrible pain of chastening out of our lives. However sometimes we embrace the chastening to readily letting ourselves wallow in the pain of the chastening without learning from it. We get caught up in the wallowing and live our lives right there in the despair and pain without being exercised by it at all. We cry out why me?! And we keep crying that out daily. Christ cried out for God to take the cup from Him, but did so by saying not His own will be done, but God's. Our will isn't to suffer, but sometimes the suffering is for a reason beyond our comprehension and we have to let go and let God work His will in us and by His grace and guidance pray that we can be exercised by the chastening we suffer.
We have to lift up our hands when all they want to do is hang low and wallow. We have to take our feeble knees and lift them up high when all we want to do is fall down upon them and yes...wallow in our misery. We have to make a straight path for our feet and that path is Christ's path and keep on that path so that we will be healed. If we don't keep on God's path our entire lives will be lame, useless, the wallowing will consume us fully.
We must have peace with ALL men.
We must have holiness with ALL men.
We have to look and not just glance but really look hard for Christ in our lives so that we don't fail of the grace of God.
We have to make sure NO bitterness fills us and it will try, it will try very hard to consume us. Bitterness is an enemy of God it overshadows hope, it kills faith. We can't let bitterness take over our lives and it will try very hard to do so. Depression is a form of hopelessness and can lead to bitterness, we have to lift up our hands and knees, we have to make our paths straight, we have to follow peace and holiness with all others and we will see God because it's through God this is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we cling to Christ even when we don't understand any of what is going on in our lives, even when the horrors of live assail us. By the Holy Spirit may we live grasping hold of Christ's righteousness now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Finisher of Our Faith
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lay aside every weight.
Lay aside the sin that easily besets us.
Run with patience the race before us.
Look to Jesus the author of our faith.
Look to Jesus the finisher of our faith.
Jesus whose joy before Him was the result of His sacrifice- eternal life for all those who would believe in Him.
Jesus who endured the cross- the suffering, the pain.
Jesus who despised the shame.
Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to lay aside how much weight? EVERY.
We are to lay aside what that easily besets us? SIN.
We are to RUN with PATIENCE the race before us.
We are to look to JESUS the AUTHOR of our FAITH.
We are to look to JESUS the FINISHER of our FAITH.
It's not easy to lay aside the weight, the problems that upset us and weigh us down. We like to cling to the problems and worry over them, we want to mull over them and get all the mileage off them we can. We want sympathy, we want justice, we want a lot of things but just setting aside the problems and worries that bother us isn't something easy to do. The sins that easily capture our attention and take over us aren't sins we want to give up readily or they wouldn't be sins that were easily besetting us. Laying aside these things that would keep us from running the race before us, and running it with patience isn't something we can do on our own. We need Jesus, we need to LOOK to Jesus. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and look to Jesus. Jesus is the author of our faith. Jesus created our faith and Jesus will be there at the end of our faith when the substance of things hoped for are realized in Jesus.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look ever to Him and not to ourselves.
Amen.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lay aside every weight.
Lay aside the sin that easily besets us.
Run with patience the race before us.
Look to Jesus the author of our faith.
Look to Jesus the finisher of our faith.
Jesus whose joy before Him was the result of His sacrifice- eternal life for all those who would believe in Him.
Jesus who endured the cross- the suffering, the pain.
Jesus who despised the shame.
Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to lay aside how much weight? EVERY.
We are to lay aside what that easily besets us? SIN.
We are to RUN with PATIENCE the race before us.
We are to look to JESUS the AUTHOR of our FAITH.
We are to look to JESUS the FINISHER of our FAITH.
It's not easy to lay aside the weight, the problems that upset us and weigh us down. We like to cling to the problems and worry over them, we want to mull over them and get all the mileage off them we can. We want sympathy, we want justice, we want a lot of things but just setting aside the problems and worries that bother us isn't something easy to do. The sins that easily capture our attention and take over us aren't sins we want to give up readily or they wouldn't be sins that were easily besetting us. Laying aside these things that would keep us from running the race before us, and running it with patience isn't something we can do on our own. We need Jesus, we need to LOOK to Jesus. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and look to Jesus. Jesus is the author of our faith. Jesus created our faith and Jesus will be there at the end of our faith when the substance of things hoped for are realized in Jesus.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look ever to Him and not to ourselves.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Boldness to enter into the holiest
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
In the Old Testament before the Messiah came the sanctuary service was the only way a person could find their way to God.
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
God who is to be first and foremost in the lives of everyone (Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul), set up the sanctuary service so that when a man disobeyed God and sinned he had a way to find forgiveness and be made one with God again. No man was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. The only person allowed into the Most Holy Place was the High Priest and then only one time a year. The Most Holy Place where God's presence was on earth. The full way to God was denied to the common man because no animal sacrifice could ever fully atone for the sins against God. Jesus came made it possible for us to have complete atonement in Him.
A veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and Jesus' flesh, Jesus' death gave us a new way to God all in Him and through Him. Such a miracle! Such an amazing miracle was wrought for us. The blessing we have to be alive knowing that a way to God has been made for us is something so awesome and yet so many take it for granted. We need to boldly come before God, with the blood of Jesus forever before us knowing that it's only through His sacrifice that we can do so, only through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior.
May God bless us, may the Holy Spirit guide us before Him by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, forever and ever.
Amen.
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
In the Old Testament before the Messiah came the sanctuary service was the only way a person could find their way to God.
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
God who is to be first and foremost in the lives of everyone (Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul), set up the sanctuary service so that when a man disobeyed God and sinned he had a way to find forgiveness and be made one with God again. No man was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. The only person allowed into the Most Holy Place was the High Priest and then only one time a year. The Most Holy Place where God's presence was on earth. The full way to God was denied to the common man because no animal sacrifice could ever fully atone for the sins against God. Jesus came made it possible for us to have complete atonement in Him.
A veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and Jesus' flesh, Jesus' death gave us a new way to God all in Him and through Him. Such a miracle! Such an amazing miracle was wrought for us. The blessing we have to be alive knowing that a way to God has been made for us is something so awesome and yet so many take it for granted. We need to boldly come before God, with the blood of Jesus forever before us knowing that it's only through His sacrifice that we can do so, only through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior.
May God bless us, may the Holy Spirit guide us before Him by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, forever and ever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Who have you provoked today?
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
Who have you provoked today?
We tend to think of provoking as a bad thing, just look at the dictionary definition.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
The first meaning given is 'to incite anger or resentment'. However let's look at the subsequent meanings. 'To stir to action or feeling', that's not so bad, right? Neither is this meaning, 'to give rise to, evoke: provoke laughter.' Then again this one isn't so inspiriing in a positive way, 'to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.' When the Bible tells us this- 'provoke unto love and to good works' this is a very good thing. How are we to help each other? Provoking each other to love and good works is an amazing thing. Inciting good, stirring up good works, giving rise to love, deliberately inducing love and good works these are amazing thing and how many of us do this? How many of us provoke another person to love and good works? It's easy to provoke mischief. A simple cross word from us can incite dissent and bad feelings, can a simple loving word do the opposite? Do loving words come easy to us or do criticizing words slip more readily from our tongues? Provoking unto love and to good works. What would happen if we determined to provoke someone to love and good works today, tomorrow, everyday we live? It's a thought isn't it? The next time a cross word spills from our lips let's instantly remember this verse and see if we can't provoke love before we provoke anything else.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior we can learn to provoke to love and good works. May the love of God fill us fully, may the forgiveness of Jesus wash over us all creating clean hearts within us. May the righteousness of Christ fill our hearts, our minds, all of us so that we may be His fully and that His will may be done within us now and always.
Amen.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
Who have you provoked today?
We tend to think of provoking as a bad thing, just look at the dictionary definition.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
The first meaning given is 'to incite anger or resentment'. However let's look at the subsequent meanings. 'To stir to action or feeling', that's not so bad, right? Neither is this meaning, 'to give rise to, evoke: provoke laughter.' Then again this one isn't so inspiriing in a positive way, 'to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.' When the Bible tells us this- 'provoke unto love and to good works' this is a very good thing. How are we to help each other? Provoking each other to love and good works is an amazing thing. Inciting good, stirring up good works, giving rise to love, deliberately inducing love and good works these are amazing thing and how many of us do this? How many of us provoke another person to love and good works? It's easy to provoke mischief. A simple cross word from us can incite dissent and bad feelings, can a simple loving word do the opposite? Do loving words come easy to us or do criticizing words slip more readily from our tongues? Provoking unto love and to good works. What would happen if we determined to provoke someone to love and good works today, tomorrow, everyday we live? It's a thought isn't it? The next time a cross word spills from our lips let's instantly remember this verse and see if we can't provoke love before we provoke anything else.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior we can learn to provoke to love and good works. May the love of God fill us fully, may the forgiveness of Jesus wash over us all creating clean hearts within us. May the righteousness of Christ fill our hearts, our minds, all of us so that we may be His fully and that His will may be done within us now and always.
Amen.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Unto them that look for him shall he appear
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Unto them that look for him.
Are you looking for Jesus Christ? What do you do when you look for someone? Looking is an active pursuit not passive. You can't say you are looking for someone with your eyes closed, everyone would know that you're lying. You can't see with your eyes closed. Telling someone to look for something they can't see is a fool's game, right? It's like telling someone to look for the very breath they are breathing. We are to look for a very real Jesus Christ to return and for those of us who are looking we will see him again because He will appear to us and when He appears it will be without the sin He took upon Himself for us because the atonement will be complete. The heavenly sanctuary service will have been fulfilled.
We can't take our minds off Christ's appearing it needs to be ever before us. Our lives must be lived under the constant assurance that Christ will appear to us again as long as we look for Him.
When we fear retribution we often hide from the source of that retribution. Our looking for Jesus is like looking for love, true love that is beyond anything we can ever imagine. We can't fear the coming of the Lord, we have to live daily in hope of His return.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look for His return, look for Him in a very real way to appear to us. Let us keep Him ever before us.
Amen.
Unto them that look for him.
Are you looking for Jesus Christ? What do you do when you look for someone? Looking is an active pursuit not passive. You can't say you are looking for someone with your eyes closed, everyone would know that you're lying. You can't see with your eyes closed. Telling someone to look for something they can't see is a fool's game, right? It's like telling someone to look for the very breath they are breathing. We are to look for a very real Jesus Christ to return and for those of us who are looking we will see him again because He will appear to us and when He appears it will be without the sin He took upon Himself for us because the atonement will be complete. The heavenly sanctuary service will have been fulfilled.
We can't take our minds off Christ's appearing it needs to be ever before us. Our lives must be lived under the constant assurance that Christ will appear to us again as long as we look for Him.
When we fear retribution we often hide from the source of that retribution. Our looking for Jesus is like looking for love, true love that is beyond anything we can ever imagine. We can't fear the coming of the Lord, we have to live daily in hope of His return.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look for His return, look for Him in a very real way to appear to us. Let us keep Him ever before us.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)