Psa 18:21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psa 18:22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
Psa 18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Psa 18:24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
Psa 18:25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Psa 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Psa 18:27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Psa 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
By Your Grace Lord, by Your Grace. I can only hide my face in shame. I can only plead for Your mercy upon me. I can only lay at Your feet surrendered to You, to Your will, my will is no good. I am wretched, so wretched. Thank you God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior. Your righteousness, not mine, Your ways, not mine. You, not me. Anything righteous, anything clean, anything pure, anything upright, any iniquity I keep from all is through You and Your righteousness, Your power. By You Lord, by You Savior, now and forever! You light my candle, You Lord my God enlighten my darkness.
In Your Love Always!
Amen.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Psa 16:1 '...Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.'
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
We can't preserve ourselves. We can make choices, in fact we make choices every single day of our lives. We make choices in big things and in little things. We choose our own steps. Even those who work under an exacting boss choose to work for that boss. All but slaves- those held captive by another- have choices and even slave have choices but they are very hard to make especially when being killed for disobedience is one of the choices. In the end we can't keep ourselves, the world is too wicked. We have to ask God to preserve us. We have to trust that God will preserve us. Our prayer needs to be 'Preserve me O God for in thee do I put my trust.'
With David, a beloved of God, we need to be satisfied when we wake in our Lord's likeness meaning... nothing on earth is going to be truly satisfying, nothing. Our satisfaction needs to come from the eternal and after we sleep in death we will wake in the likeness of our Savior upon His return for us. Right now as David sleeps the sleep of death he will be satisfied when he is raised from the dead with His Savior's likeness. And in truth we are raised incorruptible as our Lord is incorruptible. We are changed instantly and brought to a new life and that satisfaction is all any of us needs- life eternal in Christ our Lord and Savior, our God.
Can we say that... can we say we'll be satisfied when we wake with Christ's likeness? We are told to seek first the kingdom of God, and we truly need to do that...seek FIRST, not second, not third, not as an afterthought or once a week, but we need to seek first the kingdom of God and that kingdom is our Savior and His righteousness.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
We can't preserve ourselves. We can make choices, in fact we make choices every single day of our lives. We make choices in big things and in little things. We choose our own steps. Even those who work under an exacting boss choose to work for that boss. All but slaves- those held captive by another- have choices and even slave have choices but they are very hard to make especially when being killed for disobedience is one of the choices. In the end we can't keep ourselves, the world is too wicked. We have to ask God to preserve us. We have to trust that God will preserve us. Our prayer needs to be 'Preserve me O God for in thee do I put my trust.'
With David, a beloved of God, we need to be satisfied when we wake in our Lord's likeness meaning... nothing on earth is going to be truly satisfying, nothing. Our satisfaction needs to come from the eternal and after we sleep in death we will wake in the likeness of our Savior upon His return for us. Right now as David sleeps the sleep of death he will be satisfied when he is raised from the dead with His Savior's likeness. And in truth we are raised incorruptible as our Lord is incorruptible. We are changed instantly and brought to a new life and that satisfaction is all any of us needs- life eternal in Christ our Lord and Savior, our God.
Can we say that... can we say we'll be satisfied when we wake with Christ's likeness? We are told to seek first the kingdom of God, and we truly need to do that...seek FIRST, not second, not third, not as an afterthought or once a week, but we need to seek first the kingdom of God and that kingdom is our Savior and His righteousness.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Your Righteousness
Psa 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psa 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psa 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 6:9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Psa 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Psa 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Lord, I trust in Your righteousness. Lord, I look up to You, my prayers are to You always. Have mercy on me, Lord, I am so very, very weak. Heal me. Heal my soul, deliver my soul, save me by Your mercy. Hear my cries, receive my prayer. Let Your righteousness try our hearts, our lives. All praise to you Lord in Your righteousness. Judge the world by Your righteousness for there is no righteousness without You. Prepare my heart, hear me oh Lord my Savior, my God, the Almighty, the Righteous One.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Thy will be done Lord, Thy will. By Thy grace and Thy mercy now and forever, on earth as in heaven.
Amen.
Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psa 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psa 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 6:9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Psa 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Psa 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Lord, I trust in Your righteousness. Lord, I look up to You, my prayers are to You always. Have mercy on me, Lord, I am so very, very weak. Heal me. Heal my soul, deliver my soul, save me by Your mercy. Hear my cries, receive my prayer. Let Your righteousness try our hearts, our lives. All praise to you Lord in Your righteousness. Judge the world by Your righteousness for there is no righteousness without You. Prepare my heart, hear me oh Lord my Savior, my God, the Almighty, the Righteous One.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Thy will be done Lord, Thy will. By Thy grace and Thy mercy now and forever, on earth as in heaven.
Amen.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Pursue Peace
Psa 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Pursue peace.
We pursue a lot of things in life. We are filled with wants and desires, filled with things we believe we need. We pursue people we believe we want to have a part of our lives, we pursue jobs we want to have, we pursue educations, we pursue activities that inspire us and give us enjoyment. Today you could be pursuing a nice quiet evening striving to make all the distractions of our life disappear. Our lives are full of pursuits some that are short lived and others that take years to fulfill. There are some pursuits that are life long. Pursuing peace is a life long pursuit. Our world strives for world peace and yet knows that it is all but impossible with all the on going conflicts. Does believing it is impossible stop the pursuit? No. In our lives we need to pursue peace. God wants us to depart from evil, to do good, to seek peace, and pursue it. If we're pursuing peace we are keeping ourselves from seeking contension, from arguing, from being disruptive.
May God help us all to pursue peace in our lives and let it extend to those all around us. As Satan strives to cause upsets in any way He can we need to pursue peace, remember the armor of God-- feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of PEACE.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we pursue His peace.
In Christ's love now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Pursue peace.
We pursue a lot of things in life. We are filled with wants and desires, filled with things we believe we need. We pursue people we believe we want to have a part of our lives, we pursue jobs we want to have, we pursue educations, we pursue activities that inspire us and give us enjoyment. Today you could be pursuing a nice quiet evening striving to make all the distractions of our life disappear. Our lives are full of pursuits some that are short lived and others that take years to fulfill. There are some pursuits that are life long. Pursuing peace is a life long pursuit. Our world strives for world peace and yet knows that it is all but impossible with all the on going conflicts. Does believing it is impossible stop the pursuit? No. In our lives we need to pursue peace. God wants us to depart from evil, to do good, to seek peace, and pursue it. If we're pursuing peace we are keeping ourselves from seeking contension, from arguing, from being disruptive.
May God help us all to pursue peace in our lives and let it extend to those all around us. As Satan strives to cause upsets in any way He can we need to pursue peace, remember the armor of God-- feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of PEACE.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we pursue His peace.
In Christ's love now and forever.
Amen.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Die to Self, Live to God
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
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
Job 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
*******
We are dust. We are clay. Animated by the breath of God. Brought to life we live as long as we have the breath of God in us. When that breath is gone we slowly turn back into the dust we were created from. Death is inevitable for us, that return to dust is inevitable. When Job spoke in response to God's reprimand-
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job abhorred himself. This should be a lesson for us all. In the face of the glory of God we are nothing, we are animated dust by His will alone. We cannot understand Him with our limited ability to comprehend the greatness of God. We need to die to self and realize we live by His will, by His grace, by His love and not by anything we do. We need to repent of our arrogance in dust and ashes. We need to be dead to sins and alive to His righteousness.
Every Sabbath day we are called to remember our Creator. Every Sabbath is a reminder we are to die to self and live to God. Asked to cease from our own labors we are asked to realize that of ourselves we are nothing. We cease from our workings to realize that it is only by God's love that we exist at all. We bow down to His will, acknowledging Him as Lord, as Savior. We help others, we realize God made the Sabbath for us to bring us into a constant remembrance of Him as our God. Doing good on the Sabbath knowing it is by His grace we can do anything at all. All glory goes to Him.
People get baptized- signifying a death of the old life, a dying and a rebirth, a new life in Christ. Every Sabbath we have the opportunity for the same experience. A death to self absorbence, a death to self indulgences, a death to self and a new life to Christ, an honoring of our Creator. One day a week to set aside selfish pursuits and focus on our Lord.
Lord please help me to die to self and live to You. By Your righteousness, by Your grace, by Your mercy, in Your love now and always.
Amen.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
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
Job 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
*******
We are dust. We are clay. Animated by the breath of God. Brought to life we live as long as we have the breath of God in us. When that breath is gone we slowly turn back into the dust we were created from. Death is inevitable for us, that return to dust is inevitable. When Job spoke in response to God's reprimand-
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job abhorred himself. This should be a lesson for us all. In the face of the glory of God we are nothing, we are animated dust by His will alone. We cannot understand Him with our limited ability to comprehend the greatness of God. We need to die to self and realize we live by His will, by His grace, by His love and not by anything we do. We need to repent of our arrogance in dust and ashes. We need to be dead to sins and alive to His righteousness.
Every Sabbath day we are called to remember our Creator. Every Sabbath is a reminder we are to die to self and live to God. Asked to cease from our own labors we are asked to realize that of ourselves we are nothing. We cease from our workings to realize that it is only by God's love that we exist at all. We bow down to His will, acknowledging Him as Lord, as Savior. We help others, we realize God made the Sabbath for us to bring us into a constant remembrance of Him as our God. Doing good on the Sabbath knowing it is by His grace we can do anything at all. All glory goes to Him.
People get baptized- signifying a death of the old life, a dying and a rebirth, a new life in Christ. Every Sabbath we have the opportunity for the same experience. A death to self absorbence, a death to self indulgences, a death to self and a new life to Christ, an honoring of our Creator. One day a week to set aside selfish pursuits and focus on our Lord.
Lord please help me to die to self and live to You. By Your righteousness, by Your grace, by Your mercy, in Your love now and always.
Amen.
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Teacher
The invitation was received not on parchment but by word of mouth. There was no need to RSVP, no need to worry over fancy dress or pristine trousers, polished shoes, nor styled hair. Come as you are, come one, come all the words rang out and curiousity offered its soft embrace gently drawing many.
The podium was a large gray rock with a soft patch of moss on the northern side and a worn crevice used as a step to attain a likely perch on the opposite side. No one sat, nor stood upon the boulder as of yet while people began to gather in a large circle around its central impressive, if yet vacant, figure.
"We are here to listen to the miracle worker, do you think he'll perform?"
"Of course, I'm counting on it."
"He best, else why would I be here?"
"What miracles will he do?"
"He heals."
"And others?"
"He feeds."
"Is there more?"
"He raised the dead."
"Ahhhh, are we sure he's real?"
"I'll believe it all when I see it."
"Shhhhh... here He comes!"
The man walked forward as the crowd parted and his expression was one of care. He had a soft smile for a child nestled against a mother's side and a gentle nod towards a very old man squinting to see him clearly. For those whose gaze touched His own they saw a tenderness, a kindness completely unassuming as it was offered so naturally, so freely.
Easy ascent up the natural stone step upon the boulder and the man carefully settled himself down with a happy sigh.
He didn't take long but began to speak and instantly his voice carried across the gathered throng, his words powerful.
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
No miracles needed the words were enough as they cut to the heart of the listeners. No miracles as each word like a drop of water on a parched tongue pierced the great soul thirst of those hearing him speak. These words were truth as never before spoken. The multitude were ready to follow this man...
...are you?
The podium was a large gray rock with a soft patch of moss on the northern side and a worn crevice used as a step to attain a likely perch on the opposite side. No one sat, nor stood upon the boulder as of yet while people began to gather in a large circle around its central impressive, if yet vacant, figure.
"We are here to listen to the miracle worker, do you think he'll perform?"
"Of course, I'm counting on it."
"He best, else why would I be here?"
"What miracles will he do?"
"He heals."
"And others?"
"He feeds."
"Is there more?"
"He raised the dead."
"Ahhhh, are we sure he's real?"
"I'll believe it all when I see it."
"Shhhhh... here He comes!"
The man walked forward as the crowd parted and his expression was one of care. He had a soft smile for a child nestled against a mother's side and a gentle nod towards a very old man squinting to see him clearly. For those whose gaze touched His own they saw a tenderness, a kindness completely unassuming as it was offered so naturally, so freely.
Easy ascent up the natural stone step upon the boulder and the man carefully settled himself down with a happy sigh.
He didn't take long but began to speak and instantly his voice carried across the gathered throng, his words powerful.
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
No miracles needed the words were enough as they cut to the heart of the listeners. No miracles as each word like a drop of water on a parched tongue pierced the great soul thirst of those hearing him speak. These words were truth as never before spoken. The multitude were ready to follow this man...
...are you?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Confessed before Angels
Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Confessed before the angels of God.
Denied before the angels of God.
Confessed Jesus before men.
Deny Jesus before men.
Where do you stand in that picture? We have to ask ourselves the question don't we? Do we acknowledge Jesus before others? Do we deny Jesus before others? We want to be acknoweldge before the angels of God by Jesus don't we? I know I do. Do I feel worthy? Do I believe I've confess my Savior enough before others? Is there such a thing as enough? Have I denied Jesus before others? If I have may God please by the grace of our Lord, forgive me.
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Confessed before the angels of God.
Denied before the angels of God.
Confessed Jesus before men.
Deny Jesus before men.
Where do you stand in that picture? We have to ask ourselves the question don't we? Do we acknowledge Jesus before others? Do we deny Jesus before others? We want to be acknoweldge before the angels of God by Jesus don't we? I know I do. Do I feel worthy? Do I believe I've confess my Savior enough before others? Is there such a thing as enough? Have I denied Jesus before others? If I have may God please by the grace of our Lord, forgive me.
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