Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
We judge.
We form opinions, we form estimations, we decide, we condemn, we pass sentence on (even if it isn't legal, and only a mental sentence), we deliberate, we assume. We do all this to each other all the time on a daily basis. We might not think this is something we do but we pass people on the street and we are making mental judgments on them. We take in their demeanor and label them and I'd be remissed if I said this was always a bad thing- it saves lives sometimes right? We see a seedy character and we instantly judge them to be a threat and we act accordingly- cautiously. However sometimes we judge wrong based on what we see, don't we? We don't see the heart, only God sees the heart. I had a relative tell me not too long ago that they were going to get a tattoo that read- 'Only God Judges Me' or something to that effect. I was touched by that revelation, that my realtive felt judged by others and this led them to want to proclaim permanently that only God can judge them. They're right. Only God can judge. We can make observations and rather err on the side of judging harshly perhaps we need to judge on side of being less harsh. Instead of the worse maybe we need to think of the best, or if not the best then at least better. Maybe we need to judge on the side of compassion, exchanging condemnation for sympathy deserved or undeserved.
We will be judged as we judge that's something we need to constantly hold before us as we go through our day to day lives. Do we want others to judge us with compassion? Do we want others to form good estimations of us? Do we want the sentences passed on us to be good ones? We do. However we know with the majority of people not God's but rather under the control of the enemy (knowingly or not), that we will be judged harshly and even so we can't return judgment the same.
Judge not.
Judge not.
Why?
Because we will be judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
By the grace of our Lord may we hold God ever before us. Leaving judging to God. If any vengeance is needed, let God claim it. Is it easy? No. Only by the power of our Lord will we live as we should. Only through the righteousness of our King will we prevail.
In Christ's love, through His cleansing blood, by His mercy, through His forgiveness now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Seek God First
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 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.
Do you really believe God will provide for you?
The Gentiles don't believe.
Who is a Gentile?
gentile (jèn´tìl´) noun
1. Often Gentile . One who is not of the Jewish faith or is of a non-Jewish nation.
2. Often Gentile . A Christian.
3. A pagan or heathen.
4. Often Gentile . Mormon Church. A non-Mormon.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
Basically a Gentile is anyone who is not God's.
We are either God's or not God's. We either choose to be with God, or not to be with God.
Those who choose not to be God's are Gentiles and they concern themselves of the things of this world.
Those who choose to be God's have to rely on God for all things. For the very breath they breathe, for the very heart beating in their chests, all of it is by God. Seeking GOD FIRST is our duty. God First.
We too often concern ourselves with everything and put God as an afterthought.
God first means God first!
The first thing we think of upon waking should be God and His will being done in us.
It's not easy for us to do this because we can't grab God up and put Him on us as we might a pair of glasses, or a bath robe, or slippers. What's the first thing you do upon waking? Think about it. Do you put on glasses? Do you shuffle off to the bathroom? Do you wash your face, brush your teeth? There are quite a few things people could do first upon waking, and no matter what you do first unless it is a prayer to God, it shouldn't be done before acknowledging a new day in which to worship, praise, and honor God.
God First!
This is something I've written on before and something I'll probably write on again and again, it's that important and it helps me to remember as well. God first. When we seek the kingdom of God first we are seeking God first. Seeking to be embraced by the forgiveness, the mercy, the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; seeking to live in Christ now and forever.
In the love of Christ.
Amen.
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 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.
Do you really believe God will provide for you?
The Gentiles don't believe.
Who is a Gentile?
gentile (jèn´tìl´) noun
1. Often Gentile . One who is not of the Jewish faith or is of a non-Jewish nation.
2. Often Gentile . A Christian.
3. A pagan or heathen.
4. Often Gentile . Mormon Church. A non-Mormon.
Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary
Basically a Gentile is anyone who is not God's.
We are either God's or not God's. We either choose to be with God, or not to be with God.
Those who choose not to be God's are Gentiles and they concern themselves of the things of this world.
Those who choose to be God's have to rely on God for all things. For the very breath they breathe, for the very heart beating in their chests, all of it is by God. Seeking GOD FIRST is our duty. God First.
We too often concern ourselves with everything and put God as an afterthought.
God first means God first!
The first thing we think of upon waking should be God and His will being done in us.
It's not easy for us to do this because we can't grab God up and put Him on us as we might a pair of glasses, or a bath robe, or slippers. What's the first thing you do upon waking? Think about it. Do you put on glasses? Do you shuffle off to the bathroom? Do you wash your face, brush your teeth? There are quite a few things people could do first upon waking, and no matter what you do first unless it is a prayer to God, it shouldn't be done before acknowledging a new day in which to worship, praise, and honor God.
God First!
This is something I've written on before and something I'll probably write on again and again, it's that important and it helps me to remember as well. God first. When we seek the kingdom of God first we are seeking God first. Seeking to be embraced by the forgiveness, the mercy, the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; seeking to live in Christ now and forever.
In the love of Christ.
Amen.
Monday, April 5, 2010
God Knows Us
Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Isa 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Isa 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
How many of us talk of God? How many of us say things to honor God? A lot of us do. I know lots of people who would loudly profess Christ crucified, of God the Father glorified. It's easy to speak. It's easy to say things. Easy to spout off whatever we want to and whatever we think others might want to hear. We can fool others, we can possibly even try to fool ourselves but we can't fool God ever. God knows our hearts and He doesn't lie when He says there are people who draw near to Him with their mouths, people that honor Him with their lips, but their hearts are removed FAR from Him. They have no HEART connection, no real love for God. They are taught by other men, but they are not taught of God.
The wisdom of the wise men -- perish.
The understanding of thr prudent men -- is hidden.
Nothing is hid from God! Nothing we do is hidden from Him! We think we do things in secret but there is no such thing. All that we are, all that we do God knows. The worst of the worst isn't given freedom in their evil to go unnoticed, their acts are recorded. The best of the best, they too are an open book to God. Nothing is hid. We can sneak around on other people, friends, loved ones; we can hurt others in ways we believe are anonymous and we can get away with a lot of our evilness without a single person finding us out, but God knows. The deepest ways we take to hide our counsel from the Lord is ineffective. All the works we do in the dark believing no one sees, God sees. God knows us in and out.
We can twist things all we want and our fellow man may believe all our upside down and inside out deceptions are effective, but they're not.
When we create something does that creation tell us we didn't make it? Does it? No! It's absurd to even think such a thing. Does a child who knows their birth parents tell their birth parents they didn't create them, their mother that they didn't birth them? Their father that he had no hand in their conception? NO! Creations do not question their creator because truth is truth, it's ludicrous to think otherwise. The thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? The thing made question the maker? Yet we foolish people dare to question God over and over and over. We think in our small minded ways that we have a right to question the Creator, that somehow questioning our Maker makes us on equal or higher ground than He is. Fools. We are fools.
God knows us.
God knows our hearts.
Nothing is hidden from God.
Nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior let us lay our hearts open to Him fully and stand before our God, our Creator with nothing hidden from Him. Lord, know us, see us, help us, save us. In Your love, Your righteousness, Your mercy, Your forgiveness now and forever. We believe, Lord, help our unbelief.
Amen.
Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Isa 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Isa 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
How many of us talk of God? How many of us say things to honor God? A lot of us do. I know lots of people who would loudly profess Christ crucified, of God the Father glorified. It's easy to speak. It's easy to say things. Easy to spout off whatever we want to and whatever we think others might want to hear. We can fool others, we can possibly even try to fool ourselves but we can't fool God ever. God knows our hearts and He doesn't lie when He says there are people who draw near to Him with their mouths, people that honor Him with their lips, but their hearts are removed FAR from Him. They have no HEART connection, no real love for God. They are taught by other men, but they are not taught of God.
The wisdom of the wise men -- perish.
The understanding of thr prudent men -- is hidden.
Nothing is hid from God! Nothing we do is hidden from Him! We think we do things in secret but there is no such thing. All that we are, all that we do God knows. The worst of the worst isn't given freedom in their evil to go unnoticed, their acts are recorded. The best of the best, they too are an open book to God. Nothing is hid. We can sneak around on other people, friends, loved ones; we can hurt others in ways we believe are anonymous and we can get away with a lot of our evilness without a single person finding us out, but God knows. The deepest ways we take to hide our counsel from the Lord is ineffective. All the works we do in the dark believing no one sees, God sees. God knows us in and out.
We can twist things all we want and our fellow man may believe all our upside down and inside out deceptions are effective, but they're not.
When we create something does that creation tell us we didn't make it? Does it? No! It's absurd to even think such a thing. Does a child who knows their birth parents tell their birth parents they didn't create them, their mother that they didn't birth them? Their father that he had no hand in their conception? NO! Creations do not question their creator because truth is truth, it's ludicrous to think otherwise. The thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? The thing made question the maker? Yet we foolish people dare to question God over and over and over. We think in our small minded ways that we have a right to question the Creator, that somehow questioning our Maker makes us on equal or higher ground than He is. Fools. We are fools.
God knows us.
God knows our hearts.
Nothing is hidden from God.
Nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior let us lay our hearts open to Him fully and stand before our God, our Creator with nothing hidden from Him. Lord, know us, see us, help us, save us. In Your love, Your righteousness, Your mercy, Your forgiveness now and forever. We believe, Lord, help our unbelief.
Amen.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
God First!
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Clay- Moist, sticky earth; mud.
A potter needs moist, sticky earth, mud to work with, to form their objects. If a potter takes a lump of dry, hardened clay can they work it, change it? No. Clay needs to be malleable. If the LORD is our potter we are malleable in His hands. With the Lord nothing is impossible so even if we've let ourselves grow hard He can soften us again. Yet there is talk of this--
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Exo 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
1Sa 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
2Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
2Ch 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
Neh 9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
Job 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Mar 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Mar 8:17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
****
We can become hardened, we can be hardened and this isn't a good thing at all! We don't want to be hardened against God in any way. That last verse- 'Exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' Sin will hardened us. Sin will kill us. Sin separates us from God and without God our Father, our Potter, molding us we are lost forever. If the clay is separated from the potter it cannot be worked. If the clay is hardened, it cannot be worked. We are the work of God's hand and He will shape us as we need to be shaped into vessels pleasing to Him if we don't let the deceitfulness of sin overtake us. We can't shape ourselves. We can't mold ourselves. We cannot force God to work us. We are clay and we can't forget this. We can't become arrogant in ourselves and believe that as clay we can be the potter. Clay can NEVER shape itself it remains however it is found -- a lump, unshapened, unformed, nothing of value. The Potter needs to shape us, to form us, to make us vessels for Him. When we believe that because we are formed as human beings that we are shaped fitted for God we become very arrogant. It is by the grace of God we were formed in our mothers wombs and brought to life. It is by the grace of God we live each day. We can't take our lives for granted. We can't hardened our hearts, our necks, our minds into believing we live of our own accord. In a world that promotes self, we have to promote God first before self and never forget it, never. God first. God first. God first!
Clay- Moist, sticky earth; mud.
A potter needs moist, sticky earth, mud to work with, to form their objects. If a potter takes a lump of dry, hardened clay can they work it, change it? No. Clay needs to be malleable. If the LORD is our potter we are malleable in His hands. With the Lord nothing is impossible so even if we've let ourselves grow hard He can soften us again. Yet there is talk of this--
Exo 7:13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 7:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.
Exo 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
1Sa 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
2Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
2Ch 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.
Neh 9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
Job 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.
Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Mar 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Mar 8:17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
****
We can become hardened, we can be hardened and this isn't a good thing at all! We don't want to be hardened against God in any way. That last verse- 'Exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' Sin will hardened us. Sin will kill us. Sin separates us from God and without God our Father, our Potter, molding us we are lost forever. If the clay is separated from the potter it cannot be worked. If the clay is hardened, it cannot be worked. We are the work of God's hand and He will shape us as we need to be shaped into vessels pleasing to Him if we don't let the deceitfulness of sin overtake us. We can't shape ourselves. We can't mold ourselves. We cannot force God to work us. We are clay and we can't forget this. We can't become arrogant in ourselves and believe that as clay we can be the potter. Clay can NEVER shape itself it remains however it is found -- a lump, unshapened, unformed, nothing of value. The Potter needs to shape us, to form us, to make us vessels for Him. When we believe that because we are formed as human beings that we are shaped fitted for God we become very arrogant. It is by the grace of God we were formed in our mothers wombs and brought to life. It is by the grace of God we live each day. We can't take our lives for granted. We can't hardened our hearts, our necks, our minds into believing we live of our own accord. In a world that promotes self, we have to promote God first before self and never forget it, never. God first. God first. God first!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
*******
We should all live with this as our life's objective above ALL else!
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Beholding God's face in HIS righteousness. Satisfied when we wake from the sleep of death into new life with God's likeness. For when we wake from the sleep of death incorruptible we are changed to incorruption. Even if we don't see the sleep of death but are translated at Christ's second coming we are changed. All of us that are God's are changed and the change is a restoration of our lives untarnished by sin, the breach healed, once more we are as God created us to be - in His likeness, in His image, in His righteousness, at one with Him once again.
Do we know exactly what it will be like? No. But we have glimpses.
Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
No marrying, no marriage. Obviously there will be no need of such. Marriage is the joining of two - man and woman to complete each other and to multiply. It wasn't good for man to be alone so God formed woman out of man's rib giving him a companion, a companion he could join with. If we are worthy to obtain the new world in Christ, worthy of being translated or resurrected into that new world, into God's likeness, we will never be alone there will never be a loneliness such as Adam felt as he was left alone with all of God's creatures around him, not finding one to compliment Himself. Life will be different in many, many ways. Another joy of awaking in God's likeness in the resurrection to God's new life for us is that fact we won't be able to die, in that respect we will be equal to the angels. Our forms perhaps as Jesus' new form upon His resurrection and ascension to the Father- flesh and spirit form. Jesus could be handled, be touched and He could eat food yet He was able to ascend to heaven, able to appear without opening a door. Spirit and flesh combined. Angels too take on the semblence of flesh at times- we are told to entertain strangers because they might be angels. We know angels visited Abraham before they continued on to Sodom and Gommorah as beings seen as men. Angels unlike us now can't die. We can be wounded, our flesh is being corrupted from the moment we are born. We all see death as our future, we live our lives knowing death will eventually catch up to us. Angels don't have that worry, even as they take the form of man they cannot die but they can revert to their spirit form.
David said he would be satisfied when he woke with the likeness of God. This was where his satisfaction lie and it's where our satisfaction should be. We can't count on this life to satisfy us if we do then we will forever be found wanting.
May God help us to realize through the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we can have the hope of this change and be satisfied upon that glorious day of transformation. Through the blood of the Lamb of God, through the forgivness and righteousness we can only find in Him may this be realized for us all. Please Lord bless us, keep us as Thy will is done on earth as it is in Heaven, protect us, keep us from the evils of this world, teach us to realize that we need total dependence upon Jesus for all things, not a single thing we can do will save us. The work God would have us to do is believing in Him, believing, having faith in Him for all things.
By His amazing grace.
Amen.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
*******
We should all live with this as our life's objective above ALL else!
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Beholding God's face in HIS righteousness. Satisfied when we wake from the sleep of death into new life with God's likeness. For when we wake from the sleep of death incorruptible we are changed to incorruption. Even if we don't see the sleep of death but are translated at Christ's second coming we are changed. All of us that are God's are changed and the change is a restoration of our lives untarnished by sin, the breach healed, once more we are as God created us to be - in His likeness, in His image, in His righteousness, at one with Him once again.
Do we know exactly what it will be like? No. But we have glimpses.
Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
No marrying, no marriage. Obviously there will be no need of such. Marriage is the joining of two - man and woman to complete each other and to multiply. It wasn't good for man to be alone so God formed woman out of man's rib giving him a companion, a companion he could join with. If we are worthy to obtain the new world in Christ, worthy of being translated or resurrected into that new world, into God's likeness, we will never be alone there will never be a loneliness such as Adam felt as he was left alone with all of God's creatures around him, not finding one to compliment Himself. Life will be different in many, many ways. Another joy of awaking in God's likeness in the resurrection to God's new life for us is that fact we won't be able to die, in that respect we will be equal to the angels. Our forms perhaps as Jesus' new form upon His resurrection and ascension to the Father- flesh and spirit form. Jesus could be handled, be touched and He could eat food yet He was able to ascend to heaven, able to appear without opening a door. Spirit and flesh combined. Angels too take on the semblence of flesh at times- we are told to entertain strangers because they might be angels. We know angels visited Abraham before they continued on to Sodom and Gommorah as beings seen as men. Angels unlike us now can't die. We can be wounded, our flesh is being corrupted from the moment we are born. We all see death as our future, we live our lives knowing death will eventually catch up to us. Angels don't have that worry, even as they take the form of man they cannot die but they can revert to their spirit form.
David said he would be satisfied when he woke with the likeness of God. This was where his satisfaction lie and it's where our satisfaction should be. We can't count on this life to satisfy us if we do then we will forever be found wanting.
May God help us to realize through the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we can have the hope of this change and be satisfied upon that glorious day of transformation. Through the blood of the Lamb of God, through the forgivness and righteousness we can only find in Him may this be realized for us all. Please Lord bless us, keep us as Thy will is done on earth as it is in Heaven, protect us, keep us from the evils of this world, teach us to realize that we need total dependence upon Jesus for all things, not a single thing we can do will save us. The work God would have us to do is believing in Him, believing, having faith in Him for all things.
By His amazing grace.
Amen.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Listen
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
God appointed His Son heir of all things.
God made the worlds by His Son.
Jesus the brightness of God's glory.
Jesus the express image of God's person.
All things are upheld by Jesus' power.
When Jesus by Himself purged our sins sits next to God.
Jesus made so much better than angels.
Jesus the firstbegotten of God.
Jesus whom the angels worship.
God who proclaimed the angels spirits, his ministers flames of fire.
God who said to His Son--
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
God called His Son, God because He is a God. He is not a lesser God. He is a God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit- each are a God in their own right and can't be denied being such.
It's so wonderfully amazing, the Majesty on high and the Son of God together. God speaks to us through His Son. We can't ignore this. Jesus speaks to us. Those words - 'hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son...' God spoke to people by his Prophets before His Son was born on earth and then there was a direct link, God the Son speaking to us. Every word that Jesus spoke is important, more important than we realize. Or maybe we do realize and that's a great thing. People want God to speak to them and He does, through His word, through the Bible. No, it's not a conversation, it's not speaking as we know it. But God does speak to us. God is alive. God is real and we need to go to Him in prayer, go to Him in His word and listen to Him. We really need to listen.
Some say that a lot of people need to 'learn' to listen. Do we? Do we really need to 'learn' to listen? We know how to listen don't we? We hear someone speak and we respond, that's listening. We hear someone speak and we comprehend it but don't speak out of choice or situation, that's listening right? What do people mean when they say we need to 'learn' to listen? They mean that yes, we know how to hear but are we really internalizing what we are hearing. How often do we go off on something someone has said having not really listened to understand what was being said? We tend to fill in our own endings to the things people say. We tend to hear what we want to hear. Having to repeat what we say is common isn't it? Asking someone to repeat their words is very commonplace. We hear but we don't always listen, we're all guilty of not listening.
Let's listen. The words are there, we need to hear and listen to those words spoken to us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit may we hear all that the Lord God our Savior wishes us to hear, listening, really listening.
In His love always.
Amen.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
God appointed His Son heir of all things.
God made the worlds by His Son.
Jesus the brightness of God's glory.
Jesus the express image of God's person.
All things are upheld by Jesus' power.
When Jesus by Himself purged our sins sits next to God.
Jesus made so much better than angels.
Jesus the firstbegotten of God.
Jesus whom the angels worship.
God who proclaimed the angels spirits, his ministers flames of fire.
God who said to His Son--
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
God called His Son, God because He is a God. He is not a lesser God. He is a God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit- each are a God in their own right and can't be denied being such.
It's so wonderfully amazing, the Majesty on high and the Son of God together. God speaks to us through His Son. We can't ignore this. Jesus speaks to us. Those words - 'hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son...' God spoke to people by his Prophets before His Son was born on earth and then there was a direct link, God the Son speaking to us. Every word that Jesus spoke is important, more important than we realize. Or maybe we do realize and that's a great thing. People want God to speak to them and He does, through His word, through the Bible. No, it's not a conversation, it's not speaking as we know it. But God does speak to us. God is alive. God is real and we need to go to Him in prayer, go to Him in His word and listen to Him. We really need to listen.
Some say that a lot of people need to 'learn' to listen. Do we? Do we really need to 'learn' to listen? We know how to listen don't we? We hear someone speak and we respond, that's listening. We hear someone speak and we comprehend it but don't speak out of choice or situation, that's listening right? What do people mean when they say we need to 'learn' to listen? They mean that yes, we know how to hear but are we really internalizing what we are hearing. How often do we go off on something someone has said having not really listened to understand what was being said? We tend to fill in our own endings to the things people say. We tend to hear what we want to hear. Having to repeat what we say is common isn't it? Asking someone to repeat their words is very commonplace. We hear but we don't always listen, we're all guilty of not listening.
Let's listen. The words are there, we need to hear and listen to those words spoken to us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit may we hear all that the Lord God our Savior wishes us to hear, listening, really listening.
In His love always.
Amen.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Everlasting Covenant
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
God of peace brought our Lord Jesus alive from being dead.
The Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep(us).
Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Covenant. Promise between God and man. God didn't have to make a covenant with man, but He did. Jesus came as the sacrifice necessary for the covenant to be binding. It is the GREAT SHEPHERD's blood that will make it possible for us to perfect in every good work to do HIS will. HIS will, not our will, His will. We often want God to make us perfect in our own will but it's our will we have to give over to His will only then can He make us perfect. We have to surrender self and He will work that which is wellpleasing in His sight. We have to get rid of self.
May God help us, continuously bless us, because we are full of self, much too full of self. Empty us Lord and fill us with You! By Your unfathomable love and mercy, Your forgiveness now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
God of peace brought our Lord Jesus alive from being dead.
The Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep(us).
Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Covenant. Promise between God and man. God didn't have to make a covenant with man, but He did. Jesus came as the sacrifice necessary for the covenant to be binding. It is the GREAT SHEPHERD's blood that will make it possible for us to perfect in every good work to do HIS will. HIS will, not our will, His will. We often want God to make us perfect in our own will but it's our will we have to give over to His will only then can He make us perfect. We have to surrender self and He will work that which is wellpleasing in His sight. We have to get rid of self.
May God help us, continuously bless us, because we are full of self, much too full of self. Empty us Lord and fill us with You! By Your unfathomable love and mercy, Your forgiveness now and forever.
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)