God loves us so much! He is daily sending out His messages of love and hope, if we just had ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand. Jeremiah received a message of hope in a mundane transaction of real estate. How often we miss these things because we're not expecting them.
Are you in the midst of disaster? Turn to God. He is the God of restoration.
Are you suffering from depression? I am your hope, says the Lord.
Are you being disciplined? "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
In Christ we have a new covenant, the promise of God's goodness forever. Even if you feel like you are at the bottom of the ocean. . . weighed down by impossible circumstances and crushed by unbearable heaviness. . . God is with you, and nothing is too hard for Him. Do you feel separated from God's love? There are bubbles all around you! Take these to your heart, for they contain the oxygen of hope that will sustain you until He comes and lifts you up.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good" Jeremiah 31: 40-41a NKJV
Showing posts with label covenant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label covenant. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010
I love how the Bible illuminates itself! Saying it that way sounds funny to me, but really, it's Jesus, the Word, shedding His light on the written Word that I'm talking about. Somtimes though, in the One Year Bible, the Scriptures come together in just the right way to really light up the truth of the gospel, enlightening the eyes of our understanding.
While the Sadducees asked some totally irrelevant questions, Jesus brought reality into clear focus. He spoke of an "age" in which "those who are considered worthy of a place in that age" will have resurrected bodies that will not die, like the angels. It doesn't say that we will be angels, as some believe! He also didn't say "in heaven"-- clearly this is an "age" on Earth. He continues to discuss the Kingdom of God, speaking of the Messiah, giving them a chance to get some revelation about Who the Messiah was.
Psalm 89 gives us so much revelation about the promises of David to which Jesus referred. The whole psalm prophesies of Christ! Of course, we know that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah). "I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm." vs 27-28 The awesome thing is that the covenant is between God and Christ, who will never break the covenant. As long as we are "in Him", the benefits of the covenant are ours. Jesus took care of the fact that, in our natural state, we are consistent covenant breakers. He's got us covered while we grow as children of God (grace).
Part of God's covenant is that Christ's throne will be established forever. Only a person who cannot die could have a throne "as long as the heavens endure."vs 29 Just as Jesus was the Messiah then, even though most of the Jews didn't see it, or receive Him as such, Jesus is the King now, even though many don't receive Him as such, or recognize the Kingdom. While He was on the earth, He said the Kingdom of God is at hand. Then He rose from death, and went to sit at the right hand of the Father, telling us that all authority on heaven and earth had been given to Him. Doesn't that mean He's the King? The highest of all? I guess that means we're already in the Kingdom Age!
If we recognize and serve the King, we acknowlege that we are in the Kingdom age already, although it is not yet visible on Earth. At Christ's return, it will be.
What does it mean to have a King? How real is this to you?
Bonus:
Jesus is not dead, awaiting the resurrection-- He's alive! That says to me that, if it's not here already, the Resurrection Age is at hand. If that is true, what does this mean for us? What are the implications of walking in Christ's resurrection power and life? Are you aware of any Scriptures that give light on this subject? As for me, I'm keeping my eyes and ears open for more understanding of what is really going on in REALITY.
While the Sadducees asked some totally irrelevant questions, Jesus brought reality into clear focus. He spoke of an "age" in which "those who are considered worthy of a place in that age" will have resurrected bodies that will not die, like the angels. It doesn't say that we will be angels, as some believe! He also didn't say "in heaven"-- clearly this is an "age" on Earth. He continues to discuss the Kingdom of God, speaking of the Messiah, giving them a chance to get some revelation about Who the Messiah was.
Psalm 89 gives us so much revelation about the promises of David to which Jesus referred. The whole psalm prophesies of Christ! Of course, we know that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah). "I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm." vs 27-28 The awesome thing is that the covenant is between God and Christ, who will never break the covenant. As long as we are "in Him", the benefits of the covenant are ours. Jesus took care of the fact that, in our natural state, we are consistent covenant breakers. He's got us covered while we grow as children of God (grace).
Part of God's covenant is that Christ's throne will be established forever. Only a person who cannot die could have a throne "as long as the heavens endure."vs 29 Just as Jesus was the Messiah then, even though most of the Jews didn't see it, or receive Him as such, Jesus is the King now, even though many don't receive Him as such, or recognize the Kingdom. While He was on the earth, He said the Kingdom of God is at hand. Then He rose from death, and went to sit at the right hand of the Father, telling us that all authority on heaven and earth had been given to Him. Doesn't that mean He's the King? The highest of all? I guess that means we're already in the Kingdom Age!
If we recognize and serve the King, we acknowlege that we are in the Kingdom age already, although it is not yet visible on Earth. At Christ's return, it will be.
What does it mean to have a King? How real is this to you?
Bonus:
Jesus is not dead, awaiting the resurrection-- He's alive! That says to me that, if it's not here already, the Resurrection Age is at hand. If that is true, what does this mean for us? What are the implications of walking in Christ's resurrection power and life? Are you aware of any Scriptures that give light on this subject? As for me, I'm keeping my eyes and ears open for more understanding of what is really going on in REALITY.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 6, 2010
What a great God we have! His desire is for relationship with us, and He has gone to such great lengths to have it! The children of Israel had a God who would protect them and provide for them if they would be faithful to Him and not serve other Gods. We have the same God, and an even better agreement. We have a risen Savior who has made us right with God! And we can have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us truly walk with the Lord.
Yes, we should have the holy fear of the Lord. But we are constantly assured in the Scriptures that God loves us, and that we can love Him! He speaks to us every day, if we will only listen, teaching us and training us to love Him with our whole heart. How can we not be loyal to a God like that?
He had commanded the clouds above,
And opened the doors of heaven,
Had rained down manna on them to eat,
And given them of the bread of heaven.
Psalm 78: 23-24
Yes, we should have the holy fear of the Lord. But we are constantly assured in the Scriptures that God loves us, and that we can love Him! He speaks to us every day, if we will only listen, teaching us and training us to love Him with our whole heart. How can we not be loyal to a God like that?
He had commanded the clouds above,
And opened the doors of heaven,
Had rained down manna on them to eat,
And given them of the bread of heaven.
Psalm 78: 23-24
Friday, February 12, 2010
February 12, 2010
"All the people among whom you live shall see the work of the Lord; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you." Exodus 34: 11 This is a promise I'd like to claim-- how about you? I see some stipulations here: don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land (the Promised Land) where God is sending you. Tear down the altars, pillars and sacred poles and don't worship their gods. What does that mean to you?
Of course God gave them other commandments, but I just wanted to focus on the fact that God called Himself "Jealous." Ex. 34:14 I avoid going into study for this devotional, but I couldn't help looking up this Hebrew word: it's "qanna," meaning "not bearing any rival; the severe avenger of departure from Himself." This is a name of God that I don't recall having learned before. We usually focus on names like Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Rapha! He is still that, so while I'm on it, I'll drop this verse: 2 Corinthians 11:2. Look it up!
My One Year Bible is in the New Revised Standard. In the Matthew reading, it says that they handed Jesus over to be crucified out of "jealousy." I looked that up too, and the word is translated "envy" everywhere else. We get those words mixed up a lot and tend to use them interchangeably, when they are really different. I suppose the religious leaders of the day were "jealous" over their position rather than "jealousy guarding the things of God." They were also "envious" of Jesus popularity, power and whatever else.
The message for me is, don't get envious of the world and try to get what it seems they have, or I will end up compromising and making covenants with the world, which would make my God very Jealous! He wants us a "chaste bride" not "prostituting ourselves to other gods."
That is the reason, for example, that I have chosen not to pursue contracts for publication or recording, and I don't take commercial art commissions. I don't want to get entangled with the world and have it dictate to me what I should do. A desire for riches or fame are things the Lord has taken years to burn out of me, to keep me from falling away. He still runs regular "virus scans" on the motives of my heart to keep it pure.
I will not always be popular when I start to "tear down altars and break pillars and sacred poles" on the mountains where the Lord has called me to have influence. Even when I'm doing God's will, and perhaps displaying the favor of the Lord while working in the world, it is possible that some religious types will get all up in arms to try and discredit me. But I can rely on the fact that "the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." Psalm 33:18-19
Whether I prosper in all that I do or I become a martyr for the testimony of Christ, one thing I know: Jesus took my death on the cross and prevailed!
Of course God gave them other commandments, but I just wanted to focus on the fact that God called Himself "Jealous." Ex. 34:14 I avoid going into study for this devotional, but I couldn't help looking up this Hebrew word: it's "qanna," meaning "not bearing any rival; the severe avenger of departure from Himself." This is a name of God that I don't recall having learned before. We usually focus on names like Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Rapha! He is still that, so while I'm on it, I'll drop this verse: 2 Corinthians 11:2. Look it up!
My One Year Bible is in the New Revised Standard. In the Matthew reading, it says that they handed Jesus over to be crucified out of "jealousy." I looked that up too, and the word is translated "envy" everywhere else. We get those words mixed up a lot and tend to use them interchangeably, when they are really different. I suppose the religious leaders of the day were "jealous" over their position rather than "jealousy guarding the things of God." They were also "envious" of Jesus popularity, power and whatever else.
The message for me is, don't get envious of the world and try to get what it seems they have, or I will end up compromising and making covenants with the world, which would make my God very Jealous! He wants us a "chaste bride" not "prostituting ourselves to other gods."
That is the reason, for example, that I have chosen not to pursue contracts for publication or recording, and I don't take commercial art commissions. I don't want to get entangled with the world and have it dictate to me what I should do. A desire for riches or fame are things the Lord has taken years to burn out of me, to keep me from falling away. He still runs regular "virus scans" on the motives of my heart to keep it pure.
I will not always be popular when I start to "tear down altars and break pillars and sacred poles" on the mountains where the Lord has called me to have influence. Even when I'm doing God's will, and perhaps displaying the favor of the Lord while working in the world, it is possible that some religious types will get all up in arms to try and discredit me. But I can rely on the fact that "the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." Psalm 33:18-19
Whether I prosper in all that I do or I become a martyr for the testimony of Christ, one thing I know: Jesus took my death on the cross and prevailed!
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