October 14, 2010 I Choose The Temple Of Truth

Since we are created to be God's temple, individually and corporately, we have a responsibility to remain faithful to Him.  There is an unholy temple, and I don't want to be it.  In that temple, the self is set up as god, and lawlessness "rules." Unrighteousness is its condition.  According to our reading today, it is the work of Satan.  It is the result of not loving the truth, and those who live there are given over to a lying delusion, and eventually to destruction.

On the other hand, we have the choice to live in, and be, God's holy temple.  In this temple, Christ Jesus is King, and because of His grace, we serve the living God.  This temple is full of the praise of God, and His truth rules.  The condition of those who live here is blessing and strength, grace and glory! 

Even though the world seems to be, more and more, embracing the spirit of antichrist, rushing headlong into insanity, we who are in Christ Jesus may be always joyful and hopeful in Him.  As we patiently wait for His return, we have the awesome privilege to daily serve Him in whatever He has given us to do, whether small or great.

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,  comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17 NKJV

October 5, 2010 The Best Mystery Is A Solved One

I love a mystery, don't you?  What I enjoy most about a mystery is finding out the solution.  If there's only mystery, and no revelation, the thrill is lost and the only thing left is frustration!  That's good news when it comes to the gospel!  It's a mystery revealed: "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints" "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1: 26, 27b

I'm going to let the Holy Spirit speak to you about that, because it's such a packed statement it really takes the whole New Testament to unfold it!  I felt, though, that I needed to be forthright in clearing up an apparent mystery as to why I have not kept up writing in Daily Manna.  Be assured, I haven't back-slidden, and I'm still reading my One Year Bible, as I hope you are.  I certainly hope my silence has not been a discouragement to you.

I have felt great pressure to "spew" while I've been reading the prophets-- everything I read is so vividly relevant to the present condition of our nation.  But the Holy Spirit had not released me to speak what's been on my heart.  Just because I have a daily blog does not mean I have permission to speak daily!  This is a human expectation (mine included) that can cause pressure.  Again I remind you, the designation "Daily Manna" refers to the daily reading of God's Word, not my daily words!! 

The Lord has made it clear to me that I am under no compulsion to write daily; rather He has strongly gotten it across to me that I am NOT to do so, at least not now.  I will, however, write when He tells me to.  This will keep me from blowing off steam that is supposed to build and give me momentum to accomplish the things He has given me to do.  It's a hard lesson to learn, for all of us, that just because we have something to say (referring here to something TRUE to say), doesn't mean we should always say it.  The goal is to be like Christ, and He only did and said what He saw His Father doing and saying at any given time.

Scriptures are clear about what is wrong and what needs to be done about it.  I hope you have been brave and have continued to sludge (if you felt that way) through the prophets' words of wrath and judgment, and that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you the things you needed to see and discuss with Him in prayer.  I hope these passages have given you great impetus for intercession.  I hope you were comforted and inspired by the many words of hope and pictures of Christ in Isaiah, as was I.   

What I want to do today, dear brother or sister, is to encourage you and bless you.  I do not curse my country as some people do, but neither do I wish to bless evil as some others do all the time.  So what I will do is what I see my Father doing, and that is bless His people, His HOLY nation!  Who is His holy nation, if not those who fear Him?  Those whose hope of salvation is Christ the Lord.  In His name I bless you!  You ARE blessed because you belong to HIM!  In Jesus Christ, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

It is time to SEE the mountain of the Lord, His kingdom growing in the earth.  It is time to run to the mountain!  God is lifting up His banner of love-- even as the trumpet of battle is blowing-- lifting up His covering which is Christ's blood.  Under this covering we are protected from God's wrath against evil.  Yes, there is wrath.  I feel it inside many times, and maybe you do too, against corruption, injustice and plain stupidity.  There is a separation of light from darkness as the Spirit hovers, brooding over the earth.  What He is forming in you is CHRIST!  Not the world's lying definition of that, but Christ Himself, the Word of Truth.  This is your hope of glory, the light shining out into the darkness.  There will definitely be a separation-- not of church and state, as many are calling for, but a separation of the wicked from the righteous.  The separation will be for judgment, because this world is judged.  We are under the blood, if we are His.  We are not appointed to wrath (this doesn't mean we don't get some discipline at times when we need it-- we are His children, the children of light.)   Let's just make sure we are in Him.  As the light rises in you, the darkness will flee from you as the dark of night flees from the rising of the dawn!

This is not a time for finger-pointing or blame, but time for serious consideration, and time for deep intercession.  God can and does choose nations, when they submit to Him; He can revive our nation, making it again a "nation under God", but the people of the nation need to be revived!  When I say revival, I mean taking hold of the kindgom of God.  Nationwide repentance is needed: Repentance for desiring a king other than God.  Repentance for trusting in government for provision and safety rather than trusting in the Lord.  Repentance for running after and serving other gods.   Repentance for the sacrifice of children to the evil spirits of old.  Repentance for allowing the freedom that Christ bought for us, that we have fought so desperately to retain, to be traded in for slavery.  There are many other things to be repented of, as the Word and Spirit will testify. 

The Church must from the heart repent for its lack of discernment and from hiding from her duties: "These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them." Proverbs 24: 23-25 

As citizens of an earthly nation, we must come before God to repent for the sins of our nation; as citizens of Heaven, we must call our earthly nation to come under the blood of Christ and be reconciled to God.  Then, as citizens of both Earth and of Heaven, when it's time, we must get out and vote as the Holy Spirit, Scripture and conscience direct. 

There is no more time for excuses or laziness.  Let the Sun rise in you and enlighten the darkness!

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1: 19-20

Questions to ponder:

What parts of the Word have been a mystery to you?  Have you asked God to reveal them to you?  What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you lately?

What influences have you come under in your life that have stolen the freedom you have in Christ?  Are you a slave to anything right now, other than Christ?  Do you know how to get free?

How much do you value your freedom?  Are you willing to fight for it? 
What enemies do you see that want to destroy your freedom?  What part of the battle is physical, and what part is spiritual?

August 5, 2010 When All Seems Lost, God Makes A Way

I was suicidal once, years back; for a month or more, I struggled with thoughts of how I could end my life because chronic depression had left me hopeless, and my circumstances seemed unchangeable.  I had lost connection with my faith in God, although I would not have denied it consciously.  The only thing that kept me going was that I needed to take care of my children.  I thank God for a dad who heard God, comprehended where I was at, and offered to pay for therapy.  This was the beginning of a long journey of healing and restoration for me.  That I now have abiding peace and joy in my life, and a stable environment and relationships, is a great example of the power of the cross of Christ.  It is in Him alone that I have found reality, sanity and purpose.

I share this because it is the first thing I thought of when I saw the heading for today's reading in Ezra: End of the Babylonian Captivity.  What I saw in the passage was that if God could stir up the spirit of Cyrus, He can do whatever needs to be done to rescue us from our distresses.  He did do that for me.  When I thought no good could come from my life (that was of course, a deception), God broke through my darkness and brought me out.  My sinful choices had gotten me into captivity in the first place.  God used it for good in my life anyway. 

When humanity had fallen into the depths of depravity, God made a way.  When Jesus went to the cross to die, He took upon Himself the whole of mankind's mess.  He came back from the depths of death bringing our deliverance with Him.  As Paul said, it sounds like foolishness to a lot of people, but I say, foolishness or not, it's wisdom and life.  I can testify first hand-- I'm only alive because of Him.

The Corinthians passages are some of the most powerful and hopeful I know of: I love them!  When you put them together with the Ezra account, the Psalms and the Proverbs, today's reading packs a powerfully hopeful punch! I completely embrace being a "foolish thing"!  It means I'm chosen to put to shame the "high and mighty" things of the world.  I just said to my husband this morning, that I didn't belong in the big, bad world-- that I just wanted to hide out "in a cave" and be a little girl.  The fact is, I am God's little girl!  I don't have to fit in with, or be accepted by, the world (that's perishing anyway); I don't belong!  I belong to the Kingdom!  I'm in Christ and Christ is in God.  I can be strong in the power of His might!  I  can glory in Him!  I don't have to be anything, because He is everything.  However, as I keep pressing into Him, the foolishness that is me gives way to the wisdom that is Him.  I begin to realize that in the Kingdom I have substance, significance, sustainability.

If you are lost, Jesus is the Way.  If you have been found by Him, Jesus is still the Way.  Along the Way you find Truth and Life.  These things are worth living for!  Whether you know it or not, Jesus already died for you and proclaimed you "forgiven."  Your future love relationship with God began at that moment.  Whenever you awake to this reality and say "yes," the adventure begins.  Never give up on your life!  You will be totally surprised at the wondrous things He has in store for you, even if you feel like a foolish thing right now.   

Bonus: Negativity is the beginning of the suicidal road; here's how not to get there, ever:

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD."
Psalm 27:13-14

Questions to ponder:
Have you ever struggled with despair or suicidal thoughts? How did you get out from under them?
If you have had victory in this area, have you ever shared it with others?
Do you know anyone who struggles with depression or suicidal thoughts?
How do you deal with that? 
Even if these things are far from your own experience, what have you learned that is applicable to you?

Truth: Whatever you've overcome in your life is what the Lord will use to minister life to others through you.

July 26, 2010 Bridge Over the Chasm of Doubt

I often have to be reminded of what I already know.  Although I may feel ashamed for having "forgotten" something I had revelation on, and really felt I understood, I am grateful for the prodding I get from the Holy Spirit.  He gently reminds me, and somehow gets across His desire that I do what He's saying.

Today He used this passage to do that kind of prodding with me:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:8-11 NKJV

I'm not suggesting that I used to be saved but now I'm backslidden and need to be reinstated.  No, there's more to salvation than becoming born-again.  We tend to use the term "backslidden" to mean "become unsaved," and that's a debatable concept anyway.  Just because I might get close to a slippery slope of sin doesn't mean I've lost my salvation!  But that's not what I'm talking about here.  What I mean is: I'm not walking in total salvation because I forget to cross the bridge from believing to overcoming.  What is that bridge anyway?  We see the chasm, if we're honest, but we can't see the bridge.

Perhaps we don't see the bridge because whenever we reach that chasm, there is no bridge.  We are put in the position of having to build it.  We build the bridge over the chasm of doubt by speaking the word of truth that we believe and walking on it until we reach the actuality of our faith.

I'll use myself as an example.  Through faith in Christ, I've overcome many obstacles in my life.  Depression is one of them.  Even though I was a born-again child of God, I still had chronic depression and bouts of severe and debillitating depression-- as I had suffered throughout my life-- until the last several years, where it has diminshed to only an occasional temptation.  Quite a process and lots of help from others helped me understand how to overcome the depression.  But I had to overcome it myself by walking on the bridge over the chasm of doubt. 

All the Word and faith about who I was in Christ, His love for me, His purposes in my life,  knowledge of the fruit of the Spirit, etc., wasn't going to defeat the darkness of depression if that truth stayed locked inside my heart.  Only by speaking out loud the truth I believed in my heart, and walking upon the bridge it created, would I be able to exit the gross darkness I lived in and into God's glorious light.  Declaring what I believed inside my born-again heart was the only thing that could dispel the lying reality that colored my mental and physical existence.  Every time I did this, I was able to take another step into freedom from depression.  Believing alone could not do it; faith demands action, and speaking is the first action we take.

Sometimes our cultural adages steer us away from believing the word of God.  All our life we hear "actions speak louder than words," and so we believe we don't have to speak, only act.  This is like saying "the car engine revving is louder than the turn of the key."  Well, of course it is, but try getting the engine to rev without turning the key in the ignition switch!  And just because the engine is revving doesn't mean we're getting anywhere.  We do have to shift gears, release the brake, and put our foot on the gas.  Our declared words of faith are like the key that gets it all going.

I'm saying all this to help you, as well as myself, so we can get our heart beliefs out where they can activate our salvation.  I'm believing God for healing and restructuring of some physical problems that are hindering my life progress.  The things I'm wanting to receive from God are stated clearly in the Word-- they are not gray or cloudy.  I have complete faith in their truth, and in God's will for me.  So why am I not getting saved in those areas?  Because I forget to declare the truth out of my mouth.  I forget to put the key into the ignition and turn it.  I forget to build the bridge and walk on it.

Understanding and practicing this concept can save us a lot of frustration, disappointment, shame and even anger with God.  The above Scripture tips us off as to how to get saved, and keep on getting saved.  We believed the truth, and we confessed our faith when we were born again.  We have to keep practicing that to get to where we're walking in all that Christ bought for us by His death and resurrection.  Christ is the Word, and He is the Salvation.  We unveil Him once again in our lives at every point of decision whenever we speak the truth we heard and believed.

What hinders you from confessing your faith?  Ask the Lord to show you the things that keep you from speaking the word that's in your heart, so that you can walk on the bridge of faith until you own salvation in that area of your life.

July 9, 2010 Trusting God In Someone Else's Ship

Have you ever felt frustrated when you feel the person in charge is making a serious mistake?  I have.  I've been a "voyager in someone else's ship" most of my life-- as a child dependent on parents in a troubled marriage, as a teenager in a ultra-restrictive boarding school, as a college student on scholarships trying to please a demanding professor, as a young new-Christian wife struggling to submit to her less-than-wise husband, as an employee attempting to do good work under a corrupt boss, and even as a church member trying her best to follow a confused pastor.  I'm sure there are as many tales like this as there are people.  The challenge is to stay true to our faith and keep our trust in the Lord.

Once we come of age, we often have choices about what we will do about a "captain" who is sailing off into a seemingly life-threatening storm.  I've had to make some difficult decisions, but the Lord was always with me through it all.  The Apostle Paul had a word from God to keep him staying on with a ship that was sure to sink. That takes some strong faith!  Sometimes marriage feels like a sinking ship, and if you're a wife, you may feel like jumping!  (Fortunately, we're not prisoners as Paul was, although it may feel like it sometimes.  Reminding ourselves of our desire to make the commitment can help us weather the storm.) Guys have a different problem: they are the ones who have to decide where to take that ship.  I'm glad I don't have to take the helm!  However, sometimes we have to say what we see, whether it's believed or not.  Paul did.  Then he just had to hold on to his vision and trust in God for the outcome.  I have to wonder what was going on in Dr. Luke's mind during all this, since he was on the ship too!

Prayer is always the first action we should take-- it should be automatic.  That's when we get our directions, and peace.  So often, things just seem to straighten themselves out when we pray.  Staying in the Word, too, keeps our eyes focused on the Lord:  isn't He really the Captain of our life anyway?  He knows exactly what's going on, and He's committed to our well-being.  He is the manager of our trials.  Even though being under the leadership of, or even being dependent on, another human being is probably one of the most difficult trials we undergo, we can be assured that the Lord is still watching over us for our benefit-- and for the other person's as well.

There are times we feel we must confront.  Emotional pleas just do not work!  I've tried it many times, and I simply give up.  My overwrought emotional state doesn't convince anyone of my ability to think clearly!  I will not be listened to, no matter how right I am.  Getting my focus on the Lord and seeking Him for peace is top priority.  Then, I may be heard by the "captain" if I present the information I have with calm and clarity.  It's up to him, then, to decide what to do with my intelligence (it's called intelligence for a reason-- you'd better know what you're talking about if you want to be listened to).  I must maintain in faith.

Even if you end up having to go through a shipwreck, know this: God is able to preserve you.  His ways are always redemptive, never forget.  He may be working with the "captain" of the ship you're in, to bring some level of change or repentance or growth; but even if it's mostly about them, guess what?  God's going to bring you to another level of faith, trust, backbone, maturity-- whatever it is you need to grow in.  He uses all things for our good, even shipwrecks.

July 7, 2010 Sticks, Stones and Word-Grenades

I remember learning a sort of proverb when I was a kid: "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."  Children try to believe what their elders tell them-- it's in their basic make-up to do so.  But when their own sense of right and wrong contradicts what they've been told, it's very confusing.  The old adage wasn't true, of course; it was a terrible type of denial, that instead of protecting me, left me very vulnerable to the injury of other people's words.  Lying statements about a person, when undetected or undefused, go deep down into a person's psyche and erode like acid, or they can later go off like bombs, debilitating and even destroying them.

Today we came across the very short, and somewhat hidden statement about Jabez (if you don't at least skim the geneologies and other parts of the Bible you consider boring, you miss important nuggets, or even a best-selling book!).  Here was an innocent kid being told over and over, simply by hearing his name, that he was a pain! (and possibly other words of a mother who had a bad attitude): "Come here, YouCausePain, and do these dishes for me.  That's the least you can do to make up for the suffering you've caused!"  Ouch! 

As Christians, we tend to name our children truthful and empowering things, and for a good reason!  God didn't change people's names for kicks--  He knew what names can do to people.  Names, when well-chosen, can help a child reach his or her full potential in God.  Parents should continue in that vein, speaking the truth in love over their children, as well as nurturing them in other ways.  We're going to make mistakes, obviously, but if we discover we've said something hurtful or untrue,  it is "best practice" to immediately ask a child's forgiveness and replace the untruth with the word of God.  Children also need to be taught what to do when they are ridiculed and picked on, since everyone is at one time or another. Sensitive children, especially, can really be hurt by this and need reinforcement.  The earlier we learn to receive God's comfort and allow Him to build us up with truth, the better.

We're not told how Jabez managed to become "more honorable than his brothers"-- God may have sent someone along to help him.  Since we're told about his prayer, he must have early turned to God in his disappointment.   
I wish this happened more often, but I have listened to the stories of many adults whose personalities were twisted and whose minds were warped by the things they were called as a child (along with other problems of their environment).  We see, however, that if a person will call out to God in faith, He will take up their case, deliver them from evil, restore their personhood, and bless them in their life with His favor.  Jabez even asked for a greater platform in which to testify of God's goodness.  God was able to use for good what the enemy meant for evil.  This is true for anyone who will turn to the Lord rather than remain in bitterness. 

God was able to use the lying statements of the Jews about Paul to get him to an even higher platform.  This could not have happened if Paul had buckled under the barrage of accusations being flung at him for years.  It is extremely important that we learn to hear God's words over us, over our life and person.  We have to believe Him and not the rest of the world, abusive or flattering as it may be.  If there's ever a time of "tearing down" in our life, it probably has a lot to do with tearing down the ways we operate based on lies we've believed about ourselves.  We can only reach our full potential if we are standing on the truth.  God says of you:   
"Rejoice, you who put your trust in Me;
You will shout for joy, because I defend you;
You will be joyful in Me, because you love My name.
I the LORD, will bless You, because you are the righteous in Christ;
I will surround you with My favor as with a shield." from Psalm 5: 11-12 

July 3, 2010 Turn At the Light

God's word testifies today of the power that His light and truth have to turn a person, or even a nation to Himself.  God had mercy on Josiah because he turned to the Lord, but the nation still had major consequences to deal with because of their great idolatry.  Paul the Apostle had a magnificent conversion when he encountered the glorious Christ on the road to Damascus.  He had a lot of suffering to deal with in his life, but the Lord used him to reach many souls for Him-- his letters minister to us so much even today.

I remember many years ago-- as a backslidden young woman lost in darkness-- coming to myself just like the progidal son did.  The description in today's 2 Kings reading reminds me so much of how I felt back then.  Suddenly, my eyes were opened, and I was overwhelmed when the Lord showed me how every area of my life was sin!  But because I turned to Him when He revealed himself to me, He cleansed me and healed me, and is in the process of restoring all that was lost through my rebelliousness and idolatry.  God is so good!  He will do the same for anyone that turns to Jesus as their Lord and Savior in true repentance, and He will lead them in the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I pray, on the anniversary of our "independence," that our nation will likewise have a great conversion.  We may still have to accept hard consequences for our mistakes, rebellions and idolatries.  But God will have mercy on any one who comes to Him humbly.  If enough of us turn to Him with our whole heart, perhaps this country may again shine His light as we are called to do.  As a nation, as well as individually, we must not trust in our wealth or our power to save us; we must humble ourselves before God and rely on Him alone.

"The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility." Proverbs 18:11-12 NKJV  

June 25, 2010 Earth-Shaking Praise

Our trials and tribulations always have redemptive purposes! We can be assured of this because, when we belong to God, He uses everything for good.  We have our share of responsibility, I think, in releasing God's redemptive purpose into our sphere of influence.  From reading about Paul and Silas in prison, I realize that praising and glorifying God in the midst of trouble and persecution can be the sign that points people to Christ.

Even when our sufferings are entirely private, praising God with abandon is a key to victory.  If we're practicing this when no one is looking, we'll be prepared for action when someone actually is.  To me, having victory over my difficult circumstances is a good incentive to do what I know: praise God with my whole heart-- which is a pleasing sacrifice.  The thought that I might be practicing for the future-- that other people might be brought into the Kingdom because I glorified God while I suffered-- gives my present trials even more meaning.  I might even be able to embrace them with gusto!

April 22, 2010

The Scriptures in which Jesus talks about the end times are, to me, some of the most important ones we can study, and hear His voice in, for NOW.  He tells us these things not to frighten us, but to prepare us and comfort us.  All these "dreadful portents" are indications that the Kingdom of Heaven is soon to be Christ's reign on Earth!  How could these things be our doom?  They are only foreboding to those who reject Christ, and to the rebellious kingdoms of the earth.  If we endure, we very well could be among the generation to see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" ! 

Jesus made it clear that these terrible signs and events should give us a sense of expectation, not the fear and confusion that would be characteristic of the nations of the earth.  "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28  Our response should be to get ready and be watchful-- keeping our eyes on heavenly things and our focus on Jesus Christ.  It is time to renew our commitment to serving the Lord, putting aside all the idols that distract us and take our attention away from Him.  It is time to lay down all the things in the past that keep us focused on ourselves and that hinder us by causing us to have a victim mentality.  

It is time to rise up and show the world that there is an unshakeable Kingdom, with a glorious King who reigns with love and wisdom, and to call people into it. We are in this Kingdom already, because we are in Christ who is the King.  We will have righteousness, peace and joy if we will actually live in the Kingdom we are part of.  We are, in truth, high above all that is happening on this earth.

I believe we have physicalized the concept of the "Rapture" because we took the things in Scripture and interpreted them the only way we knew how, naturally.  But if we can see things according to the Spirit, we will realize that we are ALREADY "seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus".  "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 4-7

Oh, how the Spirit of the Lord is singing over us right now, desiring with fervor for us to get a hold of this REALITY!

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" Colossians 1:13 KJV

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" NKJV

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" NIV

"For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" NLT

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" ESV

"el cual nos ha librado de la potestad de las tinieblas, y trasladado al reino de su amado Hijo" RVR

"He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" RSV

"who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love" ASV


"who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love" HNV

It has already been done!  Can you hear the music?  Will you sing it with Him?

P.S.
The sudden switch of tone and perspective in the second half of Psalm 89 reminds me of the way we think and feel when we do not realize what God has already accomplished in Christ, for us. 

P.P.S  PLEASE READ THIS!
So you don't get the wrong idea from what I'm saying:
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2

Jesus is still returning in person to reign on Earth, and we will reign with Him!

I suggest reading this chapter, as well as chapter 1. Paul is encouraging the brethren who are enduring persecutions and tribulations. Jesus said we would have these things, and that is why we must endure. But our endurance and patient perseverance is going to be dictated by our internal outlook and perspective.

"that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. . . when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. " 2 Thessalonians 1: 5a-7,10

April 19, 2010

All the passages today, from Luke on, seemed to speak to me of the consequences of rejecting the Word of God.  Jesus wept over Jerusalem, prophesying that “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44

As I read Psalm 88, it seemed like the psalmist (not David) was seeing ahead to that day of destruction and expressing the feelings of a people who had experienced that destruction.  He seemed not to see the restoration, but that doesn't mean there was not to be one.  It reminds me of the times I have been in the throes of deep depression and hopelessness.  It does truly feel like a waking death.  However, I can testify that if we will continue to cry out to the Lord, He will come to us, and again reveal Himself to us and restore us, if we will respond to Him and believe His word to us.  He will come with whatever we need-- conviction, correction, healing-- but He always comes with love.

How often, I wonder, does our Lord visit our life with His presence and weep for our lack of response to Him?  It does not give Him pleasure to have to bring discipline, or to have to allow us to "hit bottom" so that we will turn to Him.  But one thing is certain, when we do realize we are in need of Him, He will answer our cry for help.  He will come with "the things that make for our peace."

March 6, 2010

We could think God contradicted Himself if we read (out of context) "Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.  For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice that one should live on forever and never see the grave." Psalm 49: 1-20.  But if we read on, the same psalm states: "But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me." vs 15.  What a great prophesy of Christ's ransom for us!  It truly shows that there was no way of redemption except Him, but that God, indeed, had always promised a Way. 

Obviously, the first verse speaks of a person trying to redeem himself or another, and that there is no amount of riches capable of redeeming us.  Christ's life and sacrifice was SO valuable that it sufficed to redeem any and all who would receive Him-- forever!  As an aside, these verses really shows how valuable we are to God, and should increase our own concept of worth, and change how we value ourselves and others.

Unfortunately, (pun intended), there are many people who still trust in riches to save them, and many nations who do as well.  Is ours one of them, do you think?  Do you think that false messiahs who come along-- with schemes to deceive-- might try to wield worldly wealth and power as a means of solving the world's problems?  Have you ever seen this type of deception in the Church itself?  Does it seem logical to you that any amount of wealth could help with the types of trouble that Jesus prophesied for the end times, and that we see ourselves in the midst of now?  Mark 12: 7-8

Jesus was also clear that much of the end-time trouble would be between people, with rampant betrayal and hatred, even among relatives: "because of my name."  He directed us to trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say, and told us to "endure until the end."  vs 9-13 

I see a flip-side to the principle that no amount of wealth can redeem us.  It seems to me that no amount of wealth (which equates to worldly power) can "buy God off" either!  Who could pay God enough to "un-redeem" us?  Who could be wealthy enough to take us to court and condemn us when we have a Righteous Advocate on our side?  Christ!  If God is for us, who can be against us?  An entire nation?  The whole world system?  None of these powers could redeem us, and none of them can destroy us either.  We are truly safe IN the Lord!  It might be unpleasant or painful for a while, but all we need is endurance to see the salvation of God, and His promise of eternal life.

"Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?"  Psalm 49: 5-6

Jesus is not swayed, influenced or impressed by riches and worldly power.  This is clear in the beginning of the Mark passage.  He does not judge by outward appearance, but sees the heart.  He saw through the pomp of the religious leaders of the day, and He commended the poor widow for offering all she had because of her love for God.  He hasn't changed!

When we give ourselves totally to Him, this is a great treasure that He accepts.  In return, He gives Himself totally to us.  What, then, have we to fear?

March 2, 2010

I love Psalm 45  and it's beautiful description of our glorious King-- and of the Bride! Don't you? It has advice to her on how to please Him as well. As I meditate on this, my love for Him is increased, as is my desire to be seated with Him to rule and reign.

It seems that James and John, the sons of Zebedee, had a glimpse into this calling, but perhaps their desire was not pure-- worldly ambition tingeing the dream. Isn't this true of all of us to one extent or another? If we want to "qualify," then, we'll follow Jesus' clear instructions. He led the way Himself, for He "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45   It is not the way we picture a King preparing to take his throne, is it?

Jesus is the Way, and as we walk in Him, we will have our motives purified in the baptism of fire, we will drink a cup of suffering with Him as we follow Him in service, and we will be changed into His image and likeness as we submit to His leading, until we are humble and habitually lay down our lives as He did. He will make us ready to sit with Him if we are willing to walk with Him, stand up for Him, and bow down to Him.

February 5, 2010

When Jesus talked about the signs of the end of the age in Matthew 24, it definitely seems to speak of these times. I see some instructions for us:

1) Don't be led astray by false prophets.
2) Don't be alarmed.
3) Don't let your love grow cold.
4) Endure until the end.
5) Preach the gospel of the Kingdom.

No matter what happens, we have the promise of the return of Christ! In the midst of all the calamity, the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven to the earth is truly "good news"!